MOSCOW, Feb 11, (V7N) — Russian authorities have begun limiting access to Telegram, one of the country’s most widely used messaging platforms, as part of what officials describe as efforts to protect citizens and enforce compliance with national laws.

The government announced Tuesday that it was imposing restrictions on the app, accusing Telegram of failing to remove content deemed criminal and extremist.

Russia’s communications watchdog, Roskomnadzor, said the restrictions would remain in force “until violations of Russian law are eliminated.” The regulator alleged that users’ personal data was not sufficiently protected and that the platform lacked effective safeguards against fraud and the use of the service for criminal or extremist purposes.

Telegram has denied the allegations, stating that it actively works to prevent abuse and complies with applicable regulations.

According to state news agency TASS, Telegram faces fines totaling 64 million rubles (approximately $828,000) for allegedly refusing to delete banned content and failing to meet self-regulation requirements.

Following the implementation of the restrictions, users across Russia reported widespread service disruptions. Monitoring website Downdetector recorded more than 11,000 complaints within 24 hours, with users citing inaccessibility and significantly slower performance.

Telegram remains widely used in Russia by millions of people, including members of the military, senior government officials, state media outlets and institutions such as the Kremlin and Roskomnadzor itself.

Telegram’s Russian-born founder Pavel Durov said attempts to restrict the platform would not succeed, emphasizing that Telegram stands for freedom of speech and privacy regardless of political pressure.

Durov accused Russian authorities of attempting to steer citizens toward a state-controlled messaging service intended for surveillance and political censorship. He also noted that Iran made a similar attempt to block Telegram eight years ago to promote a government-backed alternative, but the effort ultimately failed.

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