Telegram CEO denies political bias and smear campaigns against the app, citing media misinformation.

Telegram CEO Pavel Durov claims the app is under a coordinated smear campaign, citing false reports like a satirical story about exiting Russia, which forced Telegram to add disclaimers. Durov denies blocking channels for political reasons and accuses media of falsely linking the platform to Russia's Federal Security Service. He defends Telegram's stance on privacy and information access, suggesting this has led to media pressure.