Russia imposes a new multimillion-dollar fine on Telegram amid the network's blocking process

Moscow.- Russian authorities have fined the messaging network Telegram another 10.5 million rubles (about $127,000) , an application that is trying to block, allegedly for not removing prohibited content, local media reported on Monday. "Impose on Telegram Messenger Inc. an administrative fine of 10.5 million rubles", reads the verdict of the Tagansky court, cited by the Interfax agency.

On February 10th, the Russian communications regulator Roscomnadzor noted that Telegram was still not complying with Russian legislation, so the authorities would continue its gradual blocking.

In addition, the regulator demanded that the popular messaging network, which until recently had about 100 million users in this country, delete more than 35,060 illegal contents, which would include materials related to illegal pornography. We recommend reading: Russian authorities also demanded that Telegram remove 35,500 materials related to the use of VPNs (tools to hide the real IP address) to access sites blocked in Russia. Last month, several Russian media outlets reported that Telegram would be definitively blocked on April 1st. The authorities justify the measure due to the desire to minimize cases of recruitment of people to commit various crimes that are carried out through that popular application. Telegram's owner, Pável Dúrov, against whom a criminal case has been opened, accuses the authorities of censoring freedom of expression. According to the Russian press, the slowdown of Telegram in the country is getting tougher every day and already exceeds 80%. Experts say that it is very difficult to block the messaging service 100%, something that Russia already tried in the past and had to give up, but its malfunction may force Telegram users to move to other platforms promoted by the Russian State.

Russia bans opposition from protesting against internet blockades

Russian authorities on Monday banned the opposition from holding protests on Sunday in several cities in the Moscow region against internet blockades and popular messaging services, arguing that the epidemiological situation does not allow it, opposition politician Boris Nadezhdin reported. Nadezhdin, the presidential hopeful in 2024 who had called for the demonstrations, wrote on his Telegram account that he takes the authorities' response as "a mockery." "All the answers are the same and seem like a mockery. You can't (gather) because of covid," he said. At the same time, he regretted that other demonstrations in the same places are authorized without the epidemiological situation affecting their celebrations.