Sergei Boyarsky, head of Russia’s State Duma Committee on IT Policy, stated there are “no prerequisites for blocking Telegram” in Russia. In an interview with Lenta.ru, Boyarsky dismissed media speculation about potential restrictions, noting foreign messengers operating in Russia comply with data localization and content removal requirements.

The deputy contrasted Telegram with banned platforms like Instagram (prohibited as an “extremist platform” owned by Meta), emphasizing Telegram doesn’t promote extremism. He confirmed regulators would impose fines for violations before considering bans. Boyarsky’s remarks follow colleague Anton Gorelkin’s earlier statement that YouTube could return to Russia if Google pays fines and upgrades its local network infrastructure.

source: Лента

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