The Russian party "Yabloko" has sent an official notification to the Moscow city hall with the intention of organizing a mass rally in defense of the messenger Telegram and freedom of information. This was reported by the party's press service, noting that the documents were submitted by chairman Nikolai Rybakov, federal committee member Ivan Bolshakov, and head of the Moscow branch Kirill Goncharov.
The rally is scheduled for March 1, 2026, in "Zaryadye" park, and according to the organizers, up to 5,000 people may participate. The leaders of "Yabloko" emphasize that the Constitution of the Russian Federation does not provide the authorities with legal grounds to ban this event, and any interference will be regarded as political pressure.
Nikolai Rybakov stated: "We insist on the cessation of the practice of blocking and respect for our rights. If the authorities decide to ban the rally, it will be their political decision, without legal justification." Party representatives stress that Telegram is the "last space of freedom" in the country and warn the authorities against attempts to "suffocate the voice of millions of Russians through censorship."
The reason for the protest was the sharp increase in pressure on the messenger in February 2026. Recall that on February 10, Roskomnadzor began a large-scale "throttling" of Telegram's operations in Russia, citing non-compliance with legislation and the need to combat extremism. Since the summer of 2025, video calls on the messenger had already been restricted, and rumors about a possible complete blocking of the service starting April 1 had emerged. In "Yabloko," these actions are viewed as a violation of citizens' constitutional rights to use convenient means of communication.
