Russia's Minister of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media, Maksut Shadayev, has issued a significant warning regarding the security of the popular messaging platform Telegram during a speech at the State Duma.
According to Operative Information Center-OMM, the minister noted that the platform's management has ignored Russian requests to block more than 150,000 pieces of prohibited content. Shadayev stated that the federal communications regulator, Roskomnadzor, has decided to throttle Telegram's connection speeds due to these legislative violations.
The minister emphasized that under Russian law, messaging services operating within the country are required to store records of voice calls and the content of messages on domestic servers. Highlighting a specific security threat, Shadayev remarked:
"There is currently numerous data confirmed by our agencies indicating that foreign intelligence services have access to correspondence on Telegram."
The minister further asserted that foreign intelligence bodies utilize the information obtained from the platform for military operations against the Russian army. Reports indicate that Russian forces have utilized the platform during operations in Ukraine, leading to intense discussions in the Russian media regarding a potential total block of the application within the country.
This development comes amid increasing technical disruptions for Telegram users in Russia, fueling speculation that the service may face a complete ban in the near future. Telegram, founded by Pavel Durov, has long been a focal point of tension between digital privacy advocates and state security requirements. In Azerbaijan, the platform remains a widely used tool for both private communication and official news dissemination, though regional authorities continue to monitor global digital security trends to ensure national information integrity.
