The hearing allowing Russia to ban Telegram lasted only 18 minutes
18 minutes
After scheduling a hearing just 24 hours earlier and failing to inform Telegram’s lawyers, a Moscow court decided to allow the Russian government to ban messaging app Telegram in just 18 minutes.
Published | Photo by Reuters/Dado Ruvic
Telegram lawyer Pavel Chikov protested the process, saying it shows that the Russian court system is “devoted to serving the interests of the authorities.”
Russia’s Federal Security Service is pressuring Telegram so it grants it access to users’ messages, saying it needs that access to complete its duties, including fighting terrorism.
