Telegram CEO says he will resist Russian authorities' plans to restrict access to its social media platform.

PANews reported on February 11th, citing Bloomberg, that Telegram CEO Pavel Durov publicly stated he would resist Russian authorities' restrictions on access to the social media platform. Roskomnadzor, Russia's telecommunications regulator, plans to restrict access to Telegram starting Tuesday, citing the company's "failure to comply with legal requirements." Durov criticized the move as a violation of civil liberties and emphasized that Telegram will stand firm in defending freedom of expression and privacy. He compared this strategy to the actions of Iranian authorities, noting that most Iranian users continue to use Telegram through technical means.

Meanwhile, the Russian government is promoting its "super app," Max, modeled after WeChat, which integrates government services, document storage, banking services, and other public and commercial functions. Since the end of 2025, Russia has begun selectively restricting Telegram, including limiting its voice and video calling capabilities.