> Nowadays even some government agencies have their own channels on it, in spite of the "ban". There's a saying in Russia: the strictness of Russian laws is com

> Nowadays even some government agencies have their own channels on it, in spite of the "ban". There's a saying in Russia: the strictness of Russian laws is compensated by optionality of compliance. Technically speaking there was no law prohibiting telegram for citizens or government officials. “Optionality of compliance” does not apply here because no user of telegram broke the law.