Roskomnadzor, the Russian federal agency responsible for overseeing and censoring Russian mass media, announced in mid-August a partial restriction on voice calls in the Telegram and WhatsApp messengers. The agency explained the restriction as a measure to combat fraudsters who use these messaging platforms. The Russian Ministry of Digital Development, meanwhile, noted that Telegram and WhatsApp, despite repeated warnings from the authorities, refuse to provide information in response to law enforcement requests concerning mass fraud or plans for terrorist attacks in Russia. The ministry added that all other messaging functions remain available, but voice calling will only be restored if the companies comply with Russian law.
Millions of labor migrants from Central Asia, who travel to Russia annually seeking employment, rely on WhatsApp and Telegram to stay in touch with their families back home. For them, this call ban is just another complication of living in Russia.
“My wife and my five-year-old daughter are back in Dushanbe. I used to call them almost daily on WhatsApp, and now it is impossible,” said Saidbek, a labor migrant from Tajikistan working in Rostov. He asked that his full name not be used for this article. He was already struggling with the high cost and slow internet in Tajikistan; the ban on calls only worsens these issues. “We’re limited to texts and voice messages for now while I figure out what’s next. I miss seeing my daughter on the screen.”
WhatsApp and Telegram are not only channels to communicate with families but also vital for connecting with migrant communities across Russia, searching for work, and keeping abreast of legislative changes affecting migrants. Almaz, a Kyrgyz migrant from Batken and an active member of the Kyrgyz diaspora in Moscow, now finds it difficult to assist newcomers.
“People back home know they can call me on WhatsApp to ask me to pick up their son at the airport, help him register, or answer questions about life in Russia. Now, this communication is slower and limited to texts,” he told The Diplomat via Telegram. “We will adapt, but right now it feels like an unnecessary complication for the sake of complication.”
Ahmad, who moved from Uzbekistan to Moscow in 2010, is fortunate to have his wife and children with him but struggles to call his elderly parents back home. Even VPNs are ineffective, as the government blocks popular free options.
“Many free VPNs are either inaccessible or perform poorly. When I use them, calls over WhatsApp and Telegram are patchy and keep dropping,” Ahmad, who preferred that his full name not be used, told The Diplomat. “We might need to pay for a better VPN. For now, I don’t know what to do. This ban adds another reason to consider returning home soon.”
Ahmad is not alone in viewing Russia as a less attractive destination, as the government continues to tighten migration policies. Since June 30, foreign nationals entering Russia without a visa must submit an electronic pre-arrival application to obtain a QR code for entry. Since September 1, migrants in Moscow and the surrounding region must register via a mobile app, consent to personal data processing (including geolocation), and periodically update their location with the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Failure to comply risks losing registration and being entered into a registry of foreigners deemed to be residing illegally, which severely restricts their rights and can lead to deportation.
WhatsApp and Telegram are the most popular apps in Russia. As of July 2025, WhatsApp reportedly had 96.2 million users aged 12 and over each month, while Telegram had 89.8 million. The third most popular app, Sberbank, had 78.9 million, and VKontakte reached 72.9 million. In terms of average daily reach, the messengers also lead: at least once a day, 81.8 million Russians use WhatsApp, and 67.4 million use Telegram.
Neither WhatsApp nor Telegram maintains a representative office in Russia, as required by the “landing” law for foreign tech giants that came into force in January 2022. The law mandates that foreign IT companies with over 500,000 daily users establish a local branch or representative office in Russia. Both platforms are listed as information-dissemination organizers, obliging them to store user data and communications and provide access to law enforcement upon request. Since 2023, Roskomnadzor has also included both in the list of services banned from transmitting payment documents and Russians’ personal data.