Law enforcement urges limits on Telegram after Russian-directed attacks
REUTERS/Dado Ruvic
Government must step in and introduce stricter regulation of
Russian messaging app Telegram, since it is used by the enemy intelligence
apparatus to recruit Ukrainians for sabotage and terrorist
attacks, Ukraine’s SBU security service and the Interior Ministry said on
Feb. 23.
Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko and deputy SBU chief Ivan Rudnytskyi made corresponding statements at a press briefing, according to Interfax‑Ukraine.
Klymenko said Telegram is most often used to recruit people to carry out sabotage and attacks. “In percentage terms, I think about half,” he said.
Asked whether the Interior Ministry supports restricting Telegram, Klymenko said the issue goes beyond law enforcement and should be decided by society as well.
“If it concerns basic security, common sense and protection … you cannot enforce a complete ban on anything,” he said.
“But to restrict and ensure the kind of operation that would allow us to reduce the number of such crimes, terrorist crimes, that should probably be discussed.”
Rudnytskyi said he agreed with Klymenko.
“Not only law enforcement but other relevant state agencies … should strengthen regulatory functions to prevent information or internet resources from being used for illegal and terrorist activity,” he said.
Earlier the same day, an explosion in Mykolaiv injured seven patrol police officers. Another blast damaged a police station in Dnipro, with no casualties.
On Feb. 22, Deputy Head of the President’s Office
Iryna Vereshchuk also said authorities should consider restricting Telegram in
Ukraine to protect national security, following a terrorist attack in Lviv.
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