Tech outlet ‘Kod Durova’ drops Pavel Durov’s name from its title after the Telegram founder is added to Russia’s ‘terrorist and extremist’ list
The Russian technology outlet Kod Durova has rebranded as Kod.ru, announcing the change in a statement posted on its website and social media accounts.
The outlet’s editors said it started out as a small publication covering Pavel Durov’s projects and the ecosystem around them, but broadened its focus and audience over time, so a rebrand had long been in the works — “long before all the recent events you’re aware of,” the editors wrote:
We’ve emphasized that Pavel Durov personally has nothing to do with our outlet, and at some point keeping his name in our title simply became dishonest. It confused readers and created false associations. It’s foolish to deny that this week’s events sped up the rebranding process, but it’s also clear that a project of this scale couldn’t have been pulled off in a day or a week. Now we’re Kod.ru — the same outlet, but with a more concise name.
The editors assured readers that they will continue covering Durov’s projects, including Telegram.
On July 29, Russia’s FSB accused Telegram founder Pavel Durov of aiding terrorism, and on July 30, Russia’s Federal Financial Monitoring Service added him to its list of terrorists and extremists.
Russian online stores then began pulling books about Durov and other related merchandise from sale. AltraVita, a Moscow clinic offering free IVF using Durov’s donor sperm, hid the procedure’s page on its website, though the clinic assured patients the procedure itself remains available.
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