Telegram has been slowed down in Russia; the reason cited is “assisting terrorism.”

Telegram founder Pavel Durov has announced that Russian authorities have opened a criminal case against him. According to his statement, he is being accused of “aiding terrorism.”

Durov said that pressure on the messenger continues to increase, with authorities citing new formal grounds to justify restrictions. He believes these measures are aimed at limiting Russians’ access to Telegram and are connected to efforts to restrict private communication and freedom of expression.

In his view, the situation reflects a deepening conflict between state authorities and independent digital platforms.