MOSCOW – The head of Russia’s communications watchdog Roskomnadzor, Alexander Zharov, regrets that he has not heard an answer to his query from Telegram owner Pavel Durov.
“Unfortunately, we have not heard an answer to the question posed in my query to the Telegram team and Pavel Durov,” Zharov said in a post on Roskomnadzor’s VK account.
The company, which manages Durov’s web services mentioned in the letter, decides on its own whether to comply with Russian laws and maintain dialogue with Russian authorities, Zharov said.
“Speaking of the essence of Pavel Valeryevich’s reply, I have to say that he, unfortunately, has been neutral towards terrorists and criminals who are using his messenger, and absolutely ignores the safety of ordinary Telegram users,” Zharov said.
On Friday the Roskomnadzor chief asked Durov to provide data so as to place the messenger on a register. Failing this, the messenger service will be blocked, Zharov warned. “I am publicly appealing to the Telegram team and personally to Pavel Valeryevich Durov: comply with Russian laws,” Zharov said in an open letter published on the agency’s website on Friday.
The statutory period for Roskomnadzor to make a decision is running out, he said. “I must admit that at this point all current possibilities of official communication with the Telegram team have been exhausted,” Zharov wrote.
In early May Roskomnadzor wrote to Telegram, asking it to provide data for the company to be registered as an organizer of information dissemination. The agency warned the company that its website could be blocked if it fails to provide such data.
