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Duma Passes FSB-Requested Service Shutdown Bill as Telegram Faces Mounting Curbs

The measure expands authorities’ ability to halt services on demand as Roskomnadzor steps up pressure on Telegram and a rumored April 1 block remains unconfirmed.

Overview

  • Lawmakers approved amendments in second and final readings requiring operators to suspend communications upon FSB demands, with the Federation Council set to review the bill on February 18.
  • The adopted text ties shutdowns to cases defined by presidential acts; legal analysts say the revisions make ordering cutoffs easier than earlier drafts allowed.
  • Roskomnadzor says it will keep applying phased limits to force compliance with Russian law, while officials urged against scaring users with unverified dates for a total Telegram block.
  • Telegram reported blocking 187,634 groups and channels in one day, yet regulators say more than 154,000 channels and materials flagged by authorities remain accessible, including about 18,000 extremist or terrorist items.
  • Users across dozens of regions continue reporting disruptions in Telegram, including message delivery failures and chats temporarily disappearing from the app.