The decision to block Telegram in Dagestan was made at the federal level due to 'information security issues', the head of the republic's Ministry of Digital Development, Yuri Gamzatov, said at a press conference. Previously, the Ministry of Digital Development denied the existence of 'communication problems' after the targeted internet shutdown in Dagestan, Ingushetia, and Chechnya in October last year.
As reported by 'Kavkaz.Realii'*, Gamzatov stated that the blocking of Telegram is not an experiment, but a 'security issue', as it is 'often used by adversaries'. As an example of threats, Gamzatov recalled the anti-Israeli riot at Makhachkala airport in October 2023. At the same time, he urged the residents of the republic to use 'VKontakte'.
Problems with access to Telegram in Dagestan, Chechnya, and Ingushetia became known at the end of October. At that time, the largest Dagestani provider 'Ellko' explained the disruptions by 'Roskomnadzor' exercises to 'work out scenarios for disconnecting access to the foreign segment of the network'.
According to sources from the Dagestani publication 'Novoe Delo', federal authorities may use Dagestan, Chechnya, and Ingushetia as a testing ground for disconnection from the foreign internet, creating an analogue of the Chinese 'Golden Shield' system in the North Caucasus.
* Recognized in Russia as a 'foreign agent' and 'undesirable' organization.