Russia's Central Election Commission (CIK) has confirmed that political parties and candidates may campaign on Telegram ahead of the State Duma elections in autumn 2026, despite the platform being officially blocked, Vedomosti reported on April 8.

The CIK based its position on candidates' right to independently choose the "forms and methods" of campaigning, even though media watchdog Roskomnadzor has restricted access to the messenger service since February 10.

The decision highlights the gap between formal regulatory restrictions and actual enforcement. Telegram remains heavily restricted in Russia, with only around 30% of requests successfully reaching servers, but the platform retains a daily audience of an estimated 65mn Russian users.

The ruling contradicts a separate decision by the Federal Anti-Monopoly Service (FAS), which had previously declared advertising on Telegram unlawful. The FAS has since introduced a transition period running to the end of 2026, covering the September voting day.

Lawyers surveyed by Vedomosti warned there is no legal mechanism to pay for campaign advertising on Telegram through official election funds, meaning most material will likely be placed as negative campaigning beyond effective oversight.

Speculation had circulated that Roskomnadzor might impose a total ban on Telegram from April 1, and criminal charges have reportedly been pressed against founder Pavel Durov. Telegram dodged full blockage in April.

Telegram gained rapid subscriber growth in Russia after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and the blocking of foreign social networks. But The Bell has reported that since Durov's arrest in France in 2024, Russian authorities have questioned the platform's loyalty.

Durov was charged in France with crimes including complicity in drug trafficking and distribution of child pornography, and was released on August 28 after posting EUR5mn bail.

The blocking of Telegram is widely seen as priming the state-controlled MAX messenger, operated by internet major VK, for dominance in the Russian messenger market.