6 Apr 2018 12:48

Putin's Internet advisor recommends ICQ if Telegram blocked

MOSCOW. April 6 (Interfax) - The Russian president's advisor on Internet development, German Klimenko, has advised users to switch to the messenger ICQ, a project of the Mail.ru Group, if Telegram is blocked.

"I like ICQ. It is a full-fledged messenger. It is not inferior to Telegram in any way from the point of view of ordinary users," Klimenko told Interfax.

If Telegram is blocked in Russia, 80%-90% of the country's users may lose access to it, he said.

"Between 80% and 90% of users (largely depending on how Telegram will resist) will lose access to it," Klimenko said, adding that the meaningful use of Telegram as a messenger by users who will still have access to it will be minimal.