Durov comments on Telegram blocking and VPN impact in Russia

Middle Eastern coverage focuses on Durov’s accusation that Russia’s VPN crackdown directly disrupted the national payment system. This view treats the payment problems as a self-inflicted cost of tighter internet control rather than an outside attack. Commentators expect other countries watching Russia to weigh similar trade-offs between control and economic convenience when dealing with encrypted apps and VPNs.

• •TRT World reports that Russia’s VPN crackdown disrupted the country’s payment system, based on Durov’s account.
• •Durov links Russia’s decision to block VPNs to a sudden breakdown in electronic transactions.
• •The payment disruption is presented as a consequence of domestic policy choices, not foreign hacking.
• •Coverage suggests that heavy-handed internet controls can quickly spill over into banking and retail services.
• •Other governments are portrayed as likely to study Russia’s experience when considering their own VPN restrictions.