Moscow, Apr 10 (V7N) – A Moscow court has imposed a 7 million ruble fine (approximately $80,000) on Telegram, a widely used messaging platform, for failing to remove content that called for terrorist attacks and participation in anti-government protests. The court's decision follows complaints that some Telegram channels were inciting violence and promoting rallies aimed at overthrowing the Russian government.

The Russian news agency TASS reported that the court found Telegram had not taken adequate action to remove content that encouraged extremist activities, including attacks on vehicles and the targeting of railway transport. The channels in question were also calling for protests organized by opposition groups to challenge the Russian government’s authority. According to TASS, some of the content involved terrorist attacks allegedly linked to support from Ukrainian forces.

Despite the court ruling, Telegram, which is based in Dubai and founded by Russian-born Pavel Durov, has not provided any official comments on the case.

With an estimated 1 billion users, Telegram has become a prominent platform in Russia and other post-Soviet states. It gained increased popularity after the closure of Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter in Russia in 2022, as millions of Russians sought alternative channels for news and political discussions. The platform has become especially crucial as state-controlled media has grown dominant, with 98 percent of Russians relying on television and 84 percent using the internet for daily news.

In a separate incident, Pavel Durov was arrested in France in August last year on charges of fraud, money laundering, and distributing child sexual abuse material via Telegram. However, he returned to Dubai earlier this year after the investigation concluded.

In response to growing state control over media in Russia, Telegram has emerged as an essential outlet for independent news. Despite the fines and pressure, it remains a key platform for political discourse in the country.

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