Russia lifts ineffective ban on Telegram messaging app Russia’s communications watchdog said Thursday it would lift a ban on the popular messaging app Telegram after two years of unsuccessful attempts to block itMOSCOW -- Russia's communications watchdog said Thursday it would lift a ban on the popular messaging app Telegram after two years of unsuccessful attempts to block it. Officials alleged that Telegram, which was developed by Russian entrepreneur Pavel Durov, has been used by violent extremists. Russian government officials were among the app's active users, and some government agencies kept running their official accounts in Telegram. In April, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov admitted that the app is being widely used despite the ban. “There is a court ruling, and actions to block (the app) were based on it.

Source: ABC News June 18, 2020 14:01 UTC