Russia Drops Ban on Telegram Messenger Used for Virus Alerts
- Founder Durov committed to fight terrorism, watchdog says
- Russia had been trying to block Telegram app since 2018
Photographer: Yuri Kadobonov/AFP via Getty Images
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Russia’s communications watchdog dropped its failed efforts to block Pavel Durov’s Telegram messenger after lawmakers said it was a vital resource for informing to the public about emergencies such as the coronavirus epidemic.
The watchdog Roskomnadzor reached the decision together with the General Prosecutor’s office after Durov offered to cooperate against terrorism and extremism, according to a statement on the regulator’s website Thursday. Russian lawmakers filed a bill earlier this week to lift the restrictions.