"Is Telegram banned in Russia" or not "not banned" in Russia?
As of July 2022, the popular messaging app Telegram remains not fully in compliance with Russia's "landing" law, enacted on July 1, 2021. This legislation requires foreign IT companies to establish a local presence, respond to regulatory requests, and provide a feedback form on their website.
Despite registering a personal account and placing a feedback form, Telegram has not opened any local branch or representative office, which is a core requirement of the law. By mid-2025, the messaging service reportedly planned to open a representative office in Russia, with the process described as being in the "coordination stage" by Roskomnadzor. However, Telegram's founder, Pavel Durov, publicly disputed these reports, suggesting the possibility of misinformation or discrediting campaigns.
The "landing" law aims to ensure foreign IT companies comply with Russian regulations, including local data handling and government request responsiveness. Companies that do not comply risk fines, restrictions, or further penalties, which can escalate over time. The law also implies fines and other administrative penalties for non-compliance, although specific penalties for Telegram have not been publicly detailed. Russian authorities consider Telegram a significant entity that “worries the state,” indicating potential for stricter actions if Telegram fails to comply fully.
From September 1, 2025, amendments will come into force in Russia that do not allow advertising to be placed on resources banned in Russia. The requirements of the "landing" law apply to companies with a daily audience of over 500,000 users. As of July 2022, Telegram has been fined 7 million rubles for not complying with the obligations of a social network owner in Russia.
From January 2023 to July 2022, 12 enforcement proceedings were opened against Telegram in Russia. Georgy Lobushkin, former press secretary of Pavel Durov, stated in his personal Telegram channel that the platform has no plans to open an office in Russia. Telegram currently has a debt of almost 23.47 million rubles for various administrative offenses in Russia.
In a related development, the market for advertising with Russian bloggers in 2025 may reach 57 billion rubles. Foreign companies that refuse to comply with the "landing" law may face a ban on advertising and accepting payments from Russian physical and legal entities. Roskomnadzor "strongly recommends" moving advertising to Russian internet platforms.
In June 2022, media outlets reported that Telegram is planning to establish a branch in Russia to comply with the federal law "on landing" for foreign IT companies. However, DK.RU wrote that after the announcement of the creation of a national messenger MAX in Russia, Durov denied messages about the messenger leaving Russia.
Pavel Durov hinted at a targeted campaign to discredit the messenger in response to the information that appeared in the media. According to Hi-Tech Mail, this information was referenced in a record in Roskomnadzor's registry. No new information about the plans of Telegram to establish a branch in Russia was available at the time of this report.
- The ongoing non-compliance of Telegram with Russia's "landing" law, which involves establishing a local presence and responding to regulatory requests, is a point of contention in the intersection of technology, politics, and general news.
- As the "landing" law aims to ensure foreign IT companies like Telegram comply with Russian regulations, the company's continued delay in opening a local branch or representative office could potentially escalate fines, restrictions, or further penalties, highlighting the intersection of technology and politics.
