Russia begins blocking access to Telegram

Russia’s communications watchdog begins blocking access to the popular messaging app Telegram, after a court banned the service for refusing to give the security services access to private conversations.

“Roskomnadzor has received the ruling of (Moscow’s) Tagansky court to block Telegram’s services on Russian territory. This information was sent to providers on Monday,” the watchdog says in a statement.

Some Russian internet providers began blocking Telegram on Monday afternoon.

“Russian authorities have begun blocking Telegram. The service could be unstable without a VPN. We will inform you on the developing situation,” the messaging app notifies its Russian users.

Around 10 activists have been arrested after demonstrating outside the FSB security service headquarters against the move, Maria Alekhina, a member of the Russian protest punk group Pussy Riot, tells Ekho Moskvy radio.

Pussy Riot members were among those arrested, she says.

Telegram, a free application that lets people exchange messages, stickers, photos and videos in groups of up to 5,000 people, has attracted more than 200 million users since its launch by Durov and his brother Nikolai in 2013.

A person holding a smartphone with the Telegram messenger application on display, April 6, 2018. A Moscow court on April 13, 2018 ruled to block the popular messaging app Telegram in Russia, after it refused to give state security services access to private conversations, an AFP reporter at the court said. (AFP PHOTO / Alexander NEMENOV)

— AFP