Pavel Durov, the founder of the messaging app Telegram, has claimed that Russian citizens now enjoy greater media freedom than those in the EU. This startling assertion was made in his New Year’s message, where he drew attention to the increasing censorship within Europe.
Durov pointed out that under the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) and sanctions laws, certain Russian media outlets have been blocked on Telegram, restricting access to platforms that once provided Russian news. Meanwhile, Russian users still have unfettered access to all Western media channels on the platform. “Access to certain Russian media has been restricted in the EU under DSA and sanctions laws. At the same time, all Western media channels on Telegram are still freely available in Russia,” Durov explained on Telegram.
“Who could have thought that Russian Telegram users in 2025 would have more freedom than Europeans?” he continued, highlighting the contrast between the two regions’ media landscapes.
The EU’s crackdown on Russian media reached a new level on Sunday, when Telegram began restricting content from major state-controlled Russian outlets like RIA Novosti, Izvestiya, and the TV channels Rossiya-1, Pervyj Kanal, and NTV. Moscow has condemned this action, labeling it a “censorship measure.”
The EU’s sanctions ban the dissemination of content from specific Russian media, including RT and Sputnik, across television, radio, and online platforms. This includes not just publishing their material but even referencing or reposting it on social media. The only exceptions are for journalistic, academic, or research purposes, as long as it doesn’t contribute to spreading “disinformation.”
Telegram, known for its decentralized nature and resistance to censorship, has become a key platform for independent journalists and media outlets. Yet, the increasing censorship on the platform within the EU has raised concerns about the state of freedom of expression in Europe, according to Durov.
