Telegram has been blocked in Russia’s Dagestan and Chechnya regions over concerns that the messaging app could be used by enemies. Russia previously attempted to block Telegram in 2018 and has sought access to the platform’s user data. Pavel Durov is currently under investigation in France as part of a probe into organized crime on the app. Telegram, based in Dubai, has nearly 1 billion users and is widely used in Russia, Ukraine, and other former Soviet states. The company did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment on the recent blocks in Russia. The decision to block the app was made at the federal level, said Dagestans digital development minister, Yuri Gamzatov. He noted that Telegram could be unblocked in the future but advised users to consider alternative messaging platforms in the meantime. He referred to the October 2023 anti-Israel riot at Makhachkala airport, where protesters stormed the airport to target passengers from a flight arriving from Israel. No passengers were harmed, and several individuals have been prosecuted over the incident. Local Telegram channels had shared information about the plane’s arrival, with some users posting calls for violence. Telegram then condemned the attack and said it would block the channels involved.