Russia to pull the plug on Telegram, new reports say

Russia weighs total Telegram ban starting April 1 / Photo by Delia Aidaralieva, photo editor: Adelina Mamedova

The messaging platform Telegram could face a full nationwide shutdown in Russia as early as April 1, according to the online outlet Baza, which cited unnamed sources.

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Individuals in several government bodies reportedly told the publication that authorities may block the service entirely within about six weeks. According to those sources, the communications regulator Roskomnadzor is considering restrictions similar to those imposed on Instagram and Facebook. Any ban would apply across the country and affect both mobile and fixed-line internet, potentially preventing the app from working without circumvention tools and making downloads unavailable. Officials have not confirmed the reports.

Read also: Users report blocked YouTube and WhatsApp in Russia.

Roskomnadzor began significantly throttling Telegram’s performance on Feb. 10, citing alleged violations of Russian law, after which users across Russia reported disruptions in service.

Potential impact on media and bloggers

A complete block could deal a major blow to online media and independent content creators. In recent years, Telegram has become a central hub for news distribution, political commentary and advertising, with some outlets operating almost entirely through the platform.

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If access is restricted, part of the audience is expected to turn to VPN services — much as users did after Instagram was blocked. However, mass-market channels could lose large portions of their subscribers, particularly among people unfamiliar with bypass tools.

Channel owners would likely accelerate their presence on platforms permitted by Russian authorities, including VKontakte, YouTube, Rutube and Dzen, as well as private mailing lists. Other messaging services could also see increased adoption.

Advertising tied to Telegram may decline sharply if access is curtailed, as companies could hesitate to invest in a platform with restricted availability.