Image for representational purposes only. | Photo Credit: Reuters Russia has fined the Telegram messaging app 35 million roubles ($4,32,366) for failing to remove banned content, Russia’s Interfax news agency reported on Monday (March 16, 2026). Authorities have repeatedly accused Telegram, one of the most popular messaging apps in Russia, of allowing itself to be used as a platform for illegal and extremist content. Telegram rejects the charge and has accused Russia of trying to throttle its services in order to force people to switch to a state-run app called MAX. Published – March 16, 2026 04:38 pm IST Share this: Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window) Telegram Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email More Click to print (Opens in new window) Print Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window) Pocket Click to share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon Click to share on Nextdoor (Opens in new window) Nextdoor Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky Like this:Like Loading... Post navigation Assembly polls dates: K C Venugopal accuses ECI of bias; terms its stand as ‘mysterious’ NCP(SP) won’t contest against Sunetra Pawar in Baramati Assembly bypoll: Supriya Sule