Roskomnadzor has announced a “partial restriction” on calls made through the Telegram and WhatsApp messaging platforms, according to RIA Novosti. The agency explained the decision as necessary “to counter criminals, based on materials from law enforcement agencies.”
“According to law enforcement and numerous citizen complaints, the foreign messengers Telegram and WhatsApp have become the primary voice services used for fraud, extortion, and involving Russian citizens in sabotage and terrorist activities,” reads a statement from Roskomnadzor’s press service.
The agency added that the owners of these messengers had repeatedly been sent demands to take action, but “those demands were ignored.”
At the same time, no other restrictions are being imposed on the functionality of Telegram and WhatsApp.
