Russian lawmakers are appearing to remain loyal to Telegram despite the Kremlin’s efforts to steer them towards the state-backed Max messenger. Earlier reports suggested that the presidential administration had instructed officials and lawmakers to shift their official communications channels to Max. However, it seems that these directives have not yet been fully embraced by the legislative body.
The resistance to adopting Max highlights a potential disconnect between the Kremlin’s strategic goals and the preferences of the legislative branch. This situation may reflect broader challenges within Russia’s political structure, where centralized directives are met with varying degrees of compliance from different institutions. The continued use of Telegram by lawmakers could signal a preference for existing platforms over state-backed alternatives, even as the government seeks to consolidate control over digital communication channels.