UPDATE: Moscow crt fines Telegram for non-cooperation with security service

(Adds comments from expert in last two paragraphs)

MOSCOW, Oct 16 (PRIME) -- A Moscow district magistrate’s court has fined messenger Telegram 800,000 rubles for its refusal to provide the Federal Security Service with information to decode messages, the court’s press secretary Yulia Bocharova said on Monday.

“The court found Telegram Messenger LLP guilty of an administrative violation and imposed punishment in terms of a fine of 800,000 rubles,” Bocharova said.

Arseny Shcheltsin, director for project activities at the Internet Development Institute (IDI), said Russian authorities could endlessly impose fines on Telegram for misconduct or block it as a last resort.

“I’m sure that the fine is incomparable to possible negative consequences that could emerge because of its refusal to cooperate with law enforcement entities. On the other hand, the fine is much less that effect from the planned PR campaign of the messenger, which comes after the announcement of the fine. Considering the minimum amount of the fine for the violation (with the maximum one being at 1 million rubles), financial claims could repeat,” Shcheltsin said.

(57.6196 rubles – U.S. $1)

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