Russia has introduced a ban on advertising on Telegram. What you need to know
Now it is impossible to advertise on Telegram, as this violates the law on advertising. The FAS explained that advertising is prohibited on Internet sites, access to which is restricted, as well as on services deemed undesirable in Russia. Facebook Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp (owned by Meta, which is recognized as extremist and banned in the Russian Federation), as well as Telegram and YouTube video hosting, are among such resources. What exactly and how it is forbidden to advertise is in the Izvestia article.
New restrictions
• Starting from September 1, 2025, new rules on advertising began to apply in Russia. You can no longer advertise on platforms that are considered extremist or undesirable, as well as on websites and services that have limited access. The ban applies to any promotion formats, including native advertising and barter integrations. Fines are provided for violations: for individuals — up to 2.5 thousand rubles, for individual entrepreneurs and officials — up to 20 thousand rubles, for companies — up to 500 thousand rubles. Advertisers, as well as those who place ads, are responsible.
On February 10, 2026, Roskomnadzor imposed access restrictions on Telegram. Even if it is not a complete block, but only a slowdown, the site still formally falls under the norm of the law "On Advertising", which prohibits advertising on resources with limited access.
• The Federal Antimonopoly Service stated that the placement of advertisements on Telegram and YouTube contradicts the requirements of the law. The agency explained this by saying that access to these services is limited by Roskomnadzor. The FAS recalled that it is prohibited to distribute advertising materials on such Internet resources.
• At the same time, official information about the complete blocking of Telegram and YouTube has not yet appeared. Roskomnadzor stated that they consider the FAS clarification on this issue to be sufficient.
• The situation around Telegram has remained uncertain for a long time. At first, the messenger limited the ability to make calls, but later users began to notice a slowdown in the service. Currently, media content can be sent with a delay. However, Telegram is not listed in the Roskomnadzor blocking registry.
Long-standing litigation
• At the same time, there is a 2018 court decision that restricted access to Telegram, although it was not actually enforced. In addition, since September 1, 2025, a rule has been in effect prohibiting advertising not only on the resources of extremist, terrorist or undesirable organizations, but also on any sites to which access is restricted by law.
• On February 10, 2026, Roskomnadzor reported that Telegram still does not comply with the requirements of Russian legislation, therefore, work on limiting its functioning will continue. According to the regulator, the messenger can be used for fraudulent schemes, extortion of funds and other cybercrimes.
Liability for violations
• From the point of view of possible liability for advertising on Telegram, risks may arise for all participants in the advertising chain. Fines may affect not only the owners of the channels where advertising is placed, but also the customer companies, as well as agencies that act as intermediaries. For legal entities, the amount of sanctions ranges from 200 to 500 thousand rubles. Such amounts are not critical for large companies, but regular inspections and fines can create additional costs.
• The Roskomnadzor registry may be of particular importance for channels with an audience of more than 10,000 subscribers. The presence of such channels in the list potentially makes it easier for regulators to find possible violations. First of all, official advertising through the Telegram Ads system may be targeted. In this case, responsibility can be distributed among all participants in the process — from the advertiser to intermediaries.
• So far, the market is reacting in different ways. Some agencies recommend temporarily stopping placements and conducting an audit of advertising campaigns, while others believe that it is premature to take drastic steps. A complete withdrawal of brands from Telegram is unlikely, because the platform still has a large reach, and there are few comparable alternatives on the market. Probably, some players will simply include possible penalties in the cost of advertising integrations.
• Entrepreneurs and bloggers should keep an eye on the situation. It is recommended not to launch new advertising integrations yet. If the advertisement still continues, it is worth considering possible fines and be sure to follow the labeling rules. At the same time, regular posts about their own services or non-commercial content are not considered advertising, although in some cases they may be interpreted differently.
Previously, Telegram was considered one of the fastest growing advertising platforms and generated significant revenue for content authors and companies. A possible ban on advertising placements could seriously affect the market, as it would be difficult to quickly switch to other platforms: the digital industry regularly changes its main platforms, and they cannot completely replace each other.
• The law on the Unified Online Advertising Accounting System in Russia has been in force for several years. It provides for the creation of a system that collects and processes data on advertising on the Internet. Roskomnadzor is engaged in its development and support.
When writing the material, Izvestia interviewed:
Boris Gerasin is a digital lawyer, Chairman of the Center for Intellectual Property at the Moscow Ombudsman, Deputy Chairman of the Intellectual Property Council of the CCI of the Russian Federation.
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