Telegram founder Pavel Durov has raised concerns about a coordinated smear campaign targeting his messaging platform, accusing Russian authorities of orchestrating misleading news reports and online attacks. The allegations come amid heightened tensions between Russia and Western tech companies, with Moscow seeking to bolster its domestic digital infrastructure.
In a recent statement, Durov highlighted the increasing pressure on Telegram, which has long operated outside of Russia’s regulatory framework. He emphasized that the smear campaign appears to be part of a broader strategy to undermine the platform’s operations and limit its influence within the Russian market.
Russia’s government has been actively promoting the development of its own messaging service, aiming to create a secure and state-backed alternative to Telegram. This initiative is part of a larger effort to reduce reliance on foreign technology and assert greater control over digital communications within the country.