Photo: Alexander Kazakov / EPA
The Russian authorities have decided to slow down their blocking of Telegram, Forbes Russia reported Tuesday, citing a source familiar with internal discussions.
According to the source, the move is intended to relieve some of the pressure in Russian society amid new tax amendments, price increases, and internet restrictions.
Earlier in the day, Bloomberg reported that the Kremlin may be reconsidering its position on internet blocking in Russia, amid concerns the measures could negatively affect Vladimir Putin's approval ratings. Several senior officials had warned the Putin administration in recent days of the political and economic risks associated with the blocking, according to the outlet.
Last week, the state-run Russian Public Opinion Research Center reported that Putin's approval rating had fallen to 67.8 percent — its lowest level since the start of the full-scale war in Ukraine.
Bloomberg noted that ratings this low create problems for the Kremlin ahead of September's State Duma elections, and contradict the authorities' own statements about the unity of the Russian people with Putin amid the war.
Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday that a majority of Russian citizens "understand the appropriateness of and need for" internet blocking in Russia, adding that the restrictions would be lifted once "the need for them disappears."
