Russia to Block WhatsApp Ahead of Parliamentary Elections, Pushing Users to Telegram and Max

Russia is set to fully block WhatsApp by 2026, according to State Duma representative Andrey Svintsov. The move, framed as a national security measure, aligns with the country's upcoming parliamentary elections. Meta-owned WhatsApp faces exclusion due to its parent company's designation as an "extremist organization" in Russia.

State-approved alternatives like Telegram and the domestically developed Max are positioned to absorb displaced users. Telegram remains the preferred platform despite government promotion of Max. The ban underscores Moscow's tightening grip on digital communications during politically sensitive periods.

Roskomnadzor, Russia's telecom watchdog, will implement the blocking measures. The decision reflects growing tech sovereignty efforts as Western platforms face increasing restrictions in the Russian market.