WhatsApp was supposed to be blocked in Russia by July 1, but propagandist Anastasia Kashevarova claims the deadline was pushed back to August 1 due to “defenders and lobbyists” among Russian officials.
Rumors that Russia will soon ban WhatsApp have added pressure to the Meta-owned platform following official warnings from lawmakers. Deputy State Duma Information Policy Committee Chairman Anton Gorelkin warned July 18 that WhatsApp should “prepare to leave the Russian market,” while Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphasized the platform must comply with Russian laws
However, State Duma Information Policy Committee head Sergey Boyarsky told Gazeta.ru that Kashevarova’s August 1 deadline was “another ridiculous rumor.”
WhatsApp’s potential ban stems from President Vladimir Putin’s July 17 directive ordering restrictions on software from “unfriendly countries.” Russia has already designated Meta as an extremist organization and banned Facebook and Instagram in 2022. The government is currently developing Max, a domestic messaging alternative, to replace foreign platforms, including WhatsApp. Sources close to Putin’s administration told Meduza that there’s a “99-percent chance“ that WhatsApp will be blocked, although authorities have provided no official confirmation or timeline.
