The main reason cited for Telegram's closure was the recruitment of minors for crimes.
Russian authorities have set a timeline for a complete block of the Telegram messaging app, planning to do so in early April. This was reported to RBC by a source familiar with discussions within relevant agencies. Two sources close to the Kremlin call this a final decision.
The main reasons cited for the blocking are the increasing number of cases of recruitment of citizens, including minors, to commit illegal activities. This week, Rossiyskaya Gazeta reported on a criminal investigation into Telegram founder Pavel Durov for aiding terrorist activity. Citing FSB documents, the outlet reported that the messenger's administration had failed to remove channels containing calls for extremism. Durov himself linked the criminal case to an attempt to "suppress the right to privacy and freedom of speech."
According to Komsomolskaya Pravda , Telegram failed to comply with Roskomnadzor's demands and failed to remove 1,369 channels, chats, and bots containing child pornography, 3,771 resources related to drugs, 2,666 resources related to suicide, and 2,124 resources involving the involvement of minors in illegal activities. Furthermore, more than 10,500 channels containing calls for extremism and related to the financing of the enemy remained untouched, while 1,125 channels hosted materials from extremist and terrorist organizations. The criminal code article under which the case was opened carries a sentence ranging from eight years to life imprisonment.
The blocking was preceded by consistent restrictions on the messenger. On February 10, authorities began slowing down Telegram in Russia. That same day, Roskomnadzor stated that the messenger still fails to comply with Russian law and ensures the safety of citizens, and announced further restrictions. Prior to this, in August 2025, the regulator had already restricted voice calls on Telegram and WhatsApp, citing both services as being actively used for fraud, extortion, and recruiting Russians into subversive activities.
Russian authorities have set a timeline for a complete block of the Telegram messaging app, planning to do so in early April. This was reported to RBC by a source familiar with discussions within relevant agencies. Two sources close to the Kremlin call this a final decision.
The main reasons cited for the blocking are the increasing number of cases of recruitment of citizens, including minors, to commit illegal activities. This week, Rossiyskaya Gazeta reported on a criminal investigation into Telegram founder Pavel Durov for aiding terrorist activity. Citing FSB documents, the outlet reported that the messenger's administration had failed to remove channels containing calls for extremism. Durov himself linked the criminal case to an attempt to "suppress the right to privacy and freedom of speech."
According to Komsomolskaya Pravda , Telegram failed to comply with Roskomnadzor's demands and failed to remove 1,369 channels, chats, and bots containing child pornography, 3,771 resources related to drugs, 2,666 resources related to suicide, and 2,124 resources involving the involvement of minors in illegal activities. Furthermore, more than 10,500 channels containing calls for extremism and related to the financing of the enemy remained untouched, while 1,125 channels hosted materials from extremist and terrorist organizations. The criminal code article under which the case was opened carries a sentence ranging from eight years to life imprisonment.
The blocking was preceded by consistent restrictions on the messenger. On February 10, authorities began slowing down Telegram in Russia. That same day, Roskomnadzor stated that the messenger still fails to comply with Russian law and ensures the safety of citizens, and announced further restrictions. Prior to this, in August 2025, the regulator had already restricted voice calls on Telegram and WhatsApp, citing both services as being actively used for fraud, extortion, and recruiting Russians into subversive activities.
