Russia has begun slowing down the Telegram messaging application, with Roskomnadzor, Russia’s federal communications regulator, set to implement partial restrictions from 10 February, following a wave of fines and administrative cases accusing the platform of hosting illegal content.
The Moscow Tagansky Court has registered eight administrative protocols against Telegram.
Seven relate to the platform’s failure to remove prohibited content, including what the court documents described as "extremist material" and explicit content. Another protocol concerns repeated failure to monitor and limit access to illegal content.
Each violation could incur a fine of 3-8 million Russian rubles, bringing the total potential penalties to 64 million rubles, around 830,000 USD.
Two protocols are scheduled for hearing on 11 February, with other cases set for February-March.
According to sources cited by RBC, Roskomnadzor also intends to gradually restrict Telegram’s functionality. “The work of Telegram has already begun to be limited,” one source said.
Users have complained of issues uploading media and sending messages, though VPN use appears to bypass these problems. Various error monitoring websites reported over 10,000 problem notifications from users across Russia in the past 24 hours.
Roskomnadzor previously restricted calls on Telegram and WhatsApp in August 2025, citing concerns that scammers and terrorists were using the apps to defraud or recruit Russian nationals.
In October 2025, the regulator introduced partial limitations on the services “to combat criminal activity.”
Telegram was previously blocked in 2018 after the company refused to provide encryption keys to Russia’s FSB security service but was unblocked two years later.
Telegram, one of the world’s largest messaging platforms, claims around 950 million monthly active users, according to founder Pavel Durov.
It is used by a wide range of newsmakers, including the Kremlin, courts, media outlets, celebrities, and exiled opposition, to share information instantly with a large audience. The app is also widely used in Russia and Ukraine, and by pro-democracy groups in Iran and Hong Kong.
The platform offers optional end-to-end encryption, meaning messages can only be read on the sender’s and receiver’s devices, though this is not the default setting.
Last year, the Russian government launched a state-backed rival app called MAX, which critics say could be used for surveillance, though state media have dismissed these claims as false.
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Tensions in the region remained high on Tuesday (10 March), as the United States and Iran exchanged increasingly sharp warnings, including threats over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil supplies.
Iran and the U.S. exchanged threats on Tuesday, as U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned Tehran to expect the “most intense day" of attacks so far. Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said “anyone who entertains the illusion of destroying Iran knows nothing of history."
The Strait of Hormuz has become a focal point of global concern as tensions rise following the conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel. Tehran has threatened to block the strategic waterway, raising fears of disruption to global oil shipments and energy markets.
Reports of so-called “acid clouds” moving from Iran towards Central Asia are not supported by scientific data, national hydrometeorological services in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan say, adding there is no threat to the region.
Tensions in the region remained high on Tuesday (10 March), as the United States and Iran exchanged increasingly sharp warnings, including threats over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil supplies.
Global oil prices surpassed $119 a barrel on Monday (9 March, 2026), an almost four year high, as the Middle East conflict rumbled on.
China has urged Afghanistan and Pakistan to resolve their dispute through dialogue after Chinese envoy Yue Xiaoyong met Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, as fighting between the two neighbours entered its eleventh day.
Entry and exit across the state border between Azerbaijan and Iran for all types of cargo vehicles, including those in transit, will resume on 9 March, according to a statement by the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan.
Iran named Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his father Ali Khamenei as supreme leader on Monday (9 March), signaling that hardliners remain firmly in charge, as the week-old U.S.-Israeli war with Iran pushed oil above $100 a barrel.
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, has addressed the U.N. Security Council, saying the world must consider how effective its engagement with the Taliban-run country is as millions face hunger.
British MPs have rejected a proposal to introduce an Australia-style ban on social media for under-16s, opting instead to give ministers flexible powers to impose restrictions on platforms.
Australia has granted humanitarian visas to five Iranian women footballers who sought asylum, fearing persecution after refusing to sing their national anthem at an Asia Cup match.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 10th of March, covering the latest developments you need to know.
U.S. President Donald Trump called his recent phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin “very good.” The two leaders spoke on Monday about the situation in Iran and other international issues.
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