Russia promotes ‘national messenger’ to vanquish WhatsApp
Moscow also targets VPNs, criminalises searches for ‘extremist materials’ and forces migrants to install surveillance apps
Moscow also targets VPNs, criminalises searches for ‘extremist materials’ and forces migrants to install surveillance apps

Move follows months of pushing users to state-controlled app

Criminalising searches is an escalation of repressive state control

Proposal offering major concessions to Moscow blindsided European diplomats

Founder of crypto payments company Evita charged with fraud and money laundering

Washington terminates agreements with European countries to fight disinformation from Russia, China and Iran

Russia’s war in Ukraine and fears over US security relationship drive wave of VC funding