On the World Day Against Cyber Censorship on Thursday, Human Rights Watch (HRW) alerted to Russian authorities’ escalating internet censorship efforts following a government block on the nation’s most popular social media platform. 

“State control over internet infrastructure has long been the top priority for the Russian government,” said Hugh Williamson, Europe and Central Asia director at HRW. “The recent escalation of internet censorship raises serious concerns over the ability of people in Russia to access an open and free internet.”

On February 10, many users reported difficulties accessing Telegram, one of the most popular social media platforms in the country. Soon after, government sources confirmed imposing site restrictions, as HRW explained:

The Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology, and Mass Media (Roskomnadzor), responsible for internet censorship, confirmed the “gradual restrictions” on Telegram in relation to its failure to comply with Russia’s legislation. Russian media reported that authorities plan to block Telegram fully in April. 

Telegram founder Pavel Durov called the restrictions “an attempt to force citizens to switch to a state-controlled app built for surveillance and political censorship.”

The Russian government has a long history of online censorship. In August 2025, authorities announced a block on calls through Telegram and WhatsApp, claiming the measure was necessary to counteract scam calls and prevent the “involvement of Russians in sabotage and terrorist actions.”

In July 2025, HRW reported on the nation’s systemic online censorship, highlighting how Russian authorities had severely limited access to websites and online platforms deemed subversive, blocked independent news outlets, and enforced arbitrary internet shutdowns. Such measures have increased since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Currently, most Russian citizens require a “virtual private network,” or VPN, to access large social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. In 2024, numerous digital rights and civil society groups wrote to YouTube and Google, urging the companies to resist Russian censorship.