Nearly a Week Without Internet in Moscow as Russia Blocks Telegram, WhatsApp, and VPNs.

Russia Tightens Internet Restrictions

According to TSN.ua: Authorities across Russia have intensified internet restrictions, blocking widely used messaging apps like Telegram and WhatsApp along with dozens of VPN services. These actions, unfolding amid the ongoing military conflict with Ukraine, have raised alarms among human rights advocates and analysts.

In central Moscow, mobile internet has been largely unavailable for almost a week, severely disrupting daily communication for residents. On March 10, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that the restrictions are implemented for security purposes, describing them as lawful and set to continue as long as deemed necessary.

Privacy and Free Speech Under Pressure

Peskov further noted that authorities find new justifications daily for blocking Telegram, a move that Telegram founder Pavel Durov says infringes on privacy rights and free expression. This situation draws parallels to major upheavals Russia experienced after the end of the war in Afghanistan in 1989 and the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. Such measures fuel concerns over the future of free speech and access to information in the country.

The escalating internet restrictions in Russia highlight the state's growing grip on information flows, potentially undermining civil liberties and citizens' right to information. Amid the war and internal tensions, these actions may be seen as an effort to shape public opinion and curb potential dissent.

“Every day, the authorities find new reasons to restrict access to Telegram” — Pavel Durov

This underscores the need for international support of human rights defenders working to protect free speech in Russia.