Telegram removed a number of Russian channels at the request of the Kremlin.

The Russian Federation demanded the removal of more than 20 Russian channels from the Telegram messenger. One of these channels was 'VChK-OGPU' - an anonymous channel with a million subscribers, which was considered close to the Russian special services. The authors of the channel announced the removal in a backup channel and expressed hope that this decision was not related to the founder Durov himself.

In a comment to the publication 'Meduza', the Telegram press service stated that the deletion of the 'VChK-OGPU' channel was carried out by its owners due to possible unauthorized access.

In July 2024, 'VChK-OGPU' was recognized as a foreign agent by the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation, and the number of its subscribers exceeded a million.

The founder of Telegram, Pavel Durov, was detained along with Yuliya Vavilova in France in August 2024. He was later released on bail. He has been charged with six articles, including administering an online platform for illegal transactions and money laundering.

After his detention, Durov began cooperating with the investigation and responding to law enforcement requests. In March 2025, he left France with the permission of the authorities.

Analysis

The removal of Russian channels from Telegram indicates that the Russian authorities are directing efforts to control the information space and limit freedom of speech. It also shows the significant role of communication platforms in the modern world and their potential impact on public opinion. The detention of Telegram founder Pavel Durov and the charges against him indicate a complicated situation surrounding this messenger, which deserves attention from both the Russian authorities and users and the public. This case becomes one of many examples of the struggle for freedom of speech in the modern information society.