Kremlin Justifies WhatsApp Restriction Decision
Speaking to reporters in Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated: "Regarding the blocking of WhatsApp, indeed, a statement was made by our relevant authorities that, in connection with the Meta corporation's unwillingness to follow the norm and letter of Russian law, such a decision was made and implemented."
When pressed about Telegram, another widely-used messenger facing parallel restrictions, Peskov indicated that Roskomnadzor—the federal communications watchdog—would determine any further enforcement actions.
He promoted the state-backed platform Max, calling it "an accessible alternative to foreign messengers."
Roskomnadzor executed the shutdown Thursday by purging WhatsApp's primary domain from National Domain Name System servers, preventing Russian devices from retrieving necessary IP addresses without VPN workarounds. Two secondary domains—wa.me and whatsapp.net—remain accessible for now.
WhatsApp, owned by Meta, fired back with allegations of authoritarian overreach, claiming authorities seek to "fully block" the service "in an effort to drive people to a state-owned surveillance app."
The company posted on X: "Trying to isolate over 100 million users from private and secure communication is a backwards step and can only lead to less safety for people in Russia."
Max Messenger—a state-engineered app blending messaging with government services—has been mandatory on all devices sold domestically since 2025, with compulsory adoption by public workers and students.
Peskov suggested restrictions might reverse if WhatsApp complied with Russian mandates.
Roskomnadzor justified the crackdown by alleging the platform facilitates terrorist coordination and fraud schemes. Telegram faces similar accusations of violating data localization and counterterrorism protocols.
Pavel Durov, Telegram's founder, aligned with WhatsApp's narrative, writing that the state is restricting access "in an attempt to force its people to use its own app for surveillance and political censorship."
Earlier this week, authorities throttled Telegram operations—critical infrastructure for Russian military communications in combat zones near Ukraine—before partially reversing course following backlash.
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