The State Duma rejected a proposal from deputies of the Communist Party (CPRF) to send a request to Roskomnadzor and the Digital Development Ministry about the “effectiveness and expediency” of blocking Telegram. Kommersant reported that the procedural instruction failed to secure enough votes at the lower chamber’s session on June 23.
The initiative followed an appeal by Tsargrad founder Konstantin Malofeyev. Deputy Sergey Obukhov said the proposal had been drafted by “communist deputies from the group for the protection of Christian values” and was specifically aimed at obtaining information on whether such blocking measures were justified.
“They violate the rules? Fine, then show it. We still do not have full information on what, when, and where they are cooperating, and where they are not. You slow services down, but do not explain what the stumbling block is,” Obukhov said.
Sergey Boyarsky, head of the Duma committee on information policy and a member of United Russia, said during the session that the communists were engaging in populism. He argued that sanctions against any platforms arise in response to their failure to comply with laws that lawmakers themselves had adopted.
“I understand that elections are approaching and any touch on sensitive issues brings a strong audience reaction. But is that fair to the audience?” Boyarsky said.
In the end, only 73 deputies supported the CPRF proposal, while the required minimum was 226 votes. Most lawmakers did not vote.
On June 21, Malofeyev published an article criticizing the blocking of Telegram in Russia. He wrote that after the messenger was blocked, “there was no less sabotage or terror,” and that security, in his view, had still not been ensured.