Telegram likely to resume operations in Russia

The messaging app Telegram will highly likely have its operations restored in Russia, said Alexander Ionov, a member of the Human Rights Council, in an interview with TASS.

“As far as I know, there is a high probability that the Telegram team will reach an agreement with the Russian Federation and fulfil the required conditions, especially regarding extremism and those channels that pose a threat to the national security of our country,” Ionov said.

He added that Russia’s demands on the platform are “absolutely adequate” and that the Telegram team is actively discussing them.

In August 2025, Russia’s communications regulator Roskomnadzor restricted calls on the platform, citing its alleged use in fraud, extortion, and cybercrime.

The regulator also said it slowed Telegram’s services due to what it described as the platform’s "systematic and persistent violation of the requirements of federal law."