"Used by enemies": Telegram blocked in Dagestan and Chechnya

The messaging service Telegram was blocked in the Russian republics of Dagestan and Chechnya at the weekend. This was reported by the Russian state news agency Tass, which added that the move was made on the recommendation of the local law enforcement authorities. The reason given by the Dagestan government was that the messenger is often used "by our enemies". As an example, anti-Semitic riots at Makhachkala airport were mentioned, which took place in the fall of 2023 following calls for a pogrom that were spread via Telegram.

Government recommends switching to VK

According to the report, Dagestan's Minister for Digital Development has not ruled out the possibility of Telegram being unblocked at a later date. At the same time, however, he recommended switching to an alternative and mentioned VK, which is popular in Russia, by name. Tass adds that there have recently been repeated disruptions on Telegram in several regions of the North Caucasus. The messenger was founded in Russia, but is now officially operated from Dubai. Since Telegram founder Pavel Durov was temporarily arrested in Paris at the end of August, the service has been working noticeably better with Western authorities.

The incident now cited to justify the blocking of Telegram in Dagestan and Chechnya concerns massive anti-Semitic riots at Makhachkala airport in Dagestan. A crowd of people had entered the airport when a plane from Israel landed there. Rumours had previously been spread that they were refugees from the country, which had been the target of an unprecedented attack by the terrorist organization Hamas a few days earlier. Dozens of people were injured and security forces took over the airport. Telegram has not yet commented on the move.

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