Russia’s internet regulator, Roskomnadzor, announced on Tuesday it is slowing down the Telegram messenger app. The agency said Telegram broke Russian laws requiring user data to stay inside the country and to stop criminal or terrorist uses. Moscow aims to push citizens toward Max, a state-backed app designed for surveillance and government services. Telegram’s founder Pavel Durov, who lives abroad, said on his channel, "Russia is restricting access to Telegram in an attempt to force its citizens to switch to a state-controlled app built for surveillance and political censorship." Reporters Without Borders called the move a "strategy to strangle the circulation of information," highlighting Russia’s low ranking at 171 out of 180 in the World Press Freedom Index. Amnesty International described it as "censorship and obstruction under the guise of protecting people’s rights and interests." Telegram is very popular in Russia, used by officials and the public alike. Some pro-war bloggers warned that slowing Telegram would hurt communication near conflict zones. The Two Majors military channel said, "It’s very unpleasant... People’s positions will now mostly be conveyed... by our masters of the foreign ministry." Journalists like Alexander Kots said blocking Telegram would hamper Russia’s own information work and recruitment efforts. Russia tried banning Telegram before but failed and lifted the ban in 2020. Users reported slower speeds and lagging downloads on Tuesday before the official announcement. This crackdown is part of Moscow's wider effort to control the internet during the Ukraine conflict.