MOSCOW, May 28 (RAPSI) – The communications agency Roskomnadzor has forwarded a letter to Apple company demanding to remove Telegram Messenger application from App Store and stop sending its push notifications to Russian users, the watchdog’s statement reads.

In its letter Roskomnadzor also asked Apple Inc. to inform the watchdog about the company’s steps to be taken to solve these issues of concern.

Moscow’s Tagansky District Court ordered restriction of access to Telegram in Russia on April 13. The court tasked Roskomnadzor with putting a stop to sending and receiving messages in Telegram until the messenger fulfills its obligations by providing deciphering keys. The ruling came into force immediately. Roskomnadzor started blocking the messenger on April 16.

According to the Federal Law “On Information, Information Technologies and the Protection of Information”, organizers of information distribution on the Internet must submit information about users and their messages to the authorized governmental bodies conducting investigative activities and ensuring the state security.