Telegram ban sparks protests in Russia, 12 people arrested

Authorities also conducted selective checks of IDs and bags. In addition, security forces forced everyone gathered in the square to move to adjacent streets, with OMON dispersing the crowd using shouting and threats.

"They said if they are ordered to detain us, they would detain us," one participant told Russian opposition media.

Moscow authorities had not approved the rally, but many Russians gathered to protest the ban on Telegram, "white lists," and other internet restrictions in Russia. The police effectively dispersed the demonstration, claiming they were preventing a "possible unauthorized rally."

Protests in Russia

The Russian movement Scarlet Swan declared March 29 a day of rallies against internet censorship in Russia. Authorities in major cities did not approve any applications for demonstrations. At least 25 requests were rejected on contrived or absurd grounds, and several applicants were arrested for 15 days.

Despite this, many Russians ignored the bans and gathered in public squares. Local authorities responded differently across regions. In Moscow, security forces dispersed people from Bolotnaya Square, while in Yekaterinburg, police cordoned off 1905 Square, where a rally was planned. Pro-Kremlin Russian Community activists were also present.

In Murmansk, mobile signals were jammed, and IDs were checked en masse in response to the rally. Members of the Russian Community were also involved in patrolling the streets.

Overall, up to 12 people have reportedly been detained in Moscow for protesting internet restrictions. One protester was detained for holding a "No to War" poster, and at least two of those arrested were under 18.

Kremlin's joy

Meanwhile, Mikhail Oseevsky, the head of the Russian company Rostelecom, claimed that all social media not controlled by the Kremlin have supposedly died or will die in the coming days. Previously, he had advised Russians to return to Soviet-era rotary phones.

"WhatsApp is dead, Telegram will die in the coming days, MAX is growing, everything is fine," Oseevsky said to Russian propagandists.

At the same time, a member of the so-called Human Rights Council told Russian News Agency TASS that "there is a high probability that Telegram will resume work in Russia, as Pavel Durov's team may reach an agreement with Russia."

"He will meet the necessary conditions, especially regarding extremist content and channels that pose a threat to our national security," he added.

Earlier, Durov's team responded to the Kremlin's blocking initiatives with scorn. A Telegram developer noted that the messenger effectively bypasses blocks by masking its traffic. To fully block Telegram, the Kremlin would have to shut down "the entire internet" in the country.

Telegram ban, internet restrictions

Russia began blocking Telegram earlier than expected. Simultaneously, authorities are pushing users toward the so-called national messenger MAX, although they reportedly fear using it themselves.

Previously, the media reported that the Russian regime had set a date to block Telegram nationwide. The ban was scheduled to begin on April 1, 2026.

However, while authorities push everyone to use MAX, they reportedly fear doing so themselves due to concerns over total surveillance by the Russian Federal Security Service.