MOSCOW, April 12. /TASS/. The founder of the messenger Telegram, Pavel Durov, has prohibited his lawyers from participating in court hearings on the telecommunications watchdog Roskomnadzor's lawsuit on April 13, the company’s lawyer Pavel Chikov, who represents the company’s interests, said on Thursday.

"Pavel Durov has prohibited his lawyers from taking part in tomorrow’s court hearings on the Roskomnadzor lawsuit to Telegram so as not to legitimize an outspoken farce by their presence," Chikov said in Telegram.

Moscow’s Tagansky court on April 13 will start considering on the merits Roskomnadzor’s demand for blocking Telegram.