Russia Imposes New Restrictions on Telegram Amid Legal Pressure
Russia's communications watchdog, Roskomnadzor, has escalated its crackdown on Telegram, imposing fresh restrictions and fines for hosting objectionable content. Users across the country report widespread disruptions, with outage complaints surging to 15,000. The app, a critical tool for news dissemination among Kremlin officials, media, and opposition figures, now faces slowdowns and limited functionality.
Roskomnadzor justifies the measures as necessary to enforce Russian law and combat criminal activity. Telegram, founded by Pavel Durov, is slated for fines totaling 64 million roubles ($830,000) across eight court hearings tied to alleged failures to remove prohibited content. The state's campaign against the platform began in August, signaling a broader tightening of digital controls.
