The Kremlin has initiated a significant shift in its communication strategy, directing government officials and lawmakers to transition their Telegram channels to the domestic messaging platform, Max. This development, reported by the exiled news outlet Vyorstka, underscores the government’s intent to tighten its grip on foreign messaging services.
Creating a Controlled Information Ecosystem
The primary objective behind this migration is to establish a “priority information system” on Max, which is poised to become publicly accessible in the near future. A source close to the presidential administration revealed that channels operated by the State Duma, regional governors, local governments, and influential pro-Kremlin commentators are set to debut on the app in the coming weeks.
Content on Max will be overseen by Dialog, a state-supported nonprofit organization responsible for managing regional government communications centers. This move reflects a broader strategy to consolidate information dissemination within a controlled environment.
While officials will continue to maintain their presence on platforms like Telegram, the use of Max channels has become a mandatory requirement for governors and official work-related communications, as noted by a source from a Siberian region.
State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin has already embraced the new platform, stating that his transition to Max was “no trouble at all.” On the same day, press officers from the Duma informed journalists that all official communications would now be exclusively posted on Max, effectively sidelining Telegram.
Regulatory Actions Against Foreign Messaging Apps
This directive aligns with the Russian authorities’ ongoing efforts to impose restrictions on foreign messaging applications. Vyorstka reported that the Kremlin opted against an immediate ban on Telegram and WhatsApp after consultations with the Digital Development Ministry and the Federal Security Service (FSB). Instead, the authorities have begun by prohibiting voice calls on these platforms.
On Wednesday, the state communications regulator, Roskomnadzor, announced the implementation of “partial” restrictions on voice calls through both Telegram and WhatsApp. This decision was prompted by citizen complaints that these apps had become the primary channels for scams, extortion, and recruitment for sabotage or terrorism.
The Digital Development Ministry has indicated that voice call functionalities on these applications could be reinstated if they adhere to Russian legal standards, suggesting a potential path forward for foreign messaging services under stricter regulatory conditions.
