Telegram Blocked in Dagestan and Chechnya
Dagestan’s Minister of Digital Development, Yuri Gamzatov, stated that the messaging app is frequently used by malicious actors.
According to TASS, the decision to block Telegram was linked to riots at Makhachkala Airport. Gamzatov explained that the ban was enforced at the request of law enforcement agencies and currently applies to both Dagestan and Chechnya, part of the North Caucasus Federal District.
— The decision to block Telegram in these two regions was made at the federal level based on recommendations from security forces. The platform is often misused, with the Makhachkala airport unrest being one example. Telegram may be unblocked in the future, — the minister said.
Since early 2024, several regions in the North Caucasus have experienced disruptions in Telegram’s service. Gamzatov recommended using alternative platforms.
— There are good alternatives available, such as VK, — he noted.
The Makhachkala airport riots took place in October 2023 amid rising tensions in the Middle East. Protesters caused damage exceeding 24 million rubles and attacked 30 law enforcement officers, injuring 23 of them.
