MOSCOW, November 3. /TASS/. A Moscow court has fined Telegram more than 14 million rubles ($172,903) for failing to remove the book "ABC of Domestic Terrorism," which has been classified as extremist material, along with several other items whose distribution is prohibited in Russia, a TASS correspondent reported from the courtroom.
"The court finds Telegram guilty of an administrative offense under Part 2 of Article 13.41 of the Russian Code of Administrative Offenses (failure to restrict access to information as required by Russian law). The court hereby imposes a fine of 3.8 million rubles," the ruling states. In addition, the court issued fines of 3.8 million rubles and 7 million rubles under two other administrative protocols, bringing the total amount to 14.6 million rubles ($180,313).
The protocols against the messaging platform were drawn up over its refusal to remove content from its channels regarding recruitment into the Freedom of Russia Legion (designated as a terrorist group and banned in Russia), the book "ABC of Domestic Terrorism", and other prohibited information.
As previously reported, court and enforcement documents reviewed by TASS show that 29 enforcement proceedings have been initiated against the messaging app. Compulsory collection of 8.5 million rubles ($104,977) is being pursued in only four of these cases, while the rest have been terminated. Telegram’s total outstanding debt exceeds 45 million rubles ($555,761).