Telegram CEO: European Union media censorship is increasing, while Russia remains open access

Pavel Durov, chief executive of Telegram, has criticised the European Union's media restrictions, emphasising that Russian users enjoy greater freedom than European users. In a post on social media platform X on Tuesday, Mr. Durov commented: "The European Union restricts access to certain Russian media under the DSA/sanctions law. Meanwhile, all western media Telegram channels remain freely accessible in Russia. Who would have thought that Russian Telegram users would enjoy more freedom than Europeans in 2025?"
Durov's comments reflect growing unease over the European Union's Digital Services Act (DSA) and sanctions aimed at curbing misinformation and blocking Russian state media. While the European Union considers these measures essential to preserving information integrity, critics, including Durov, argue that they could erode the principle of free speech.