Will Sokolov have to add a bot to the Telegram channel?

      How the system works

      A bot launched from a personal messenger account cross-checks Gosuslugi data with the information provided at registration.

      To confirm ownership, it is necessary to grant the bot the right to add channel members. Without completing this procedure, the application to be included in the registry will be rejected.

      Consequences for bloggers

      Channels that successfully pass verification will receive an "A+" mark next to their name. Those who refuse to register face restrictions:

      ban on placing advertisements

      possible blocking of accounts at Roskomnadzor's request

      restrictions on the distribution of publications

      Advertisers face fines of up to 500,000 rubles for violating the requirements.

      Reaction of the expert community

      The innovation has sparked discussions among bloggers. The president of RASO, Evgeny Minchenko, who manages two registered channels, expressed a view regarding security: "The bot gains access to the profile, the subscriber list and the channel settings. Among my subscribers are ministers, deputies, security officials — they may not want to disclose the fact of their subscription."

      He also noted that removing the bot after registration leads to the channel being removed from the registry, and the possibility of using alternative methods of identification is called into question.

      Minchenko emphasized his intention to engage in dialogue with Roskomnadzor to find compromise solutions. The State Duma does not rule out the introduction of fines for disseminating materials from unregistered channels as early as this autumn, reports Kurs Dela.

      It should be noted that in the Kirov region the Telegram channels of the region's governor, Alexander Sokolov, must undergo a similar procedure (38,252 subscribers, average reads per post about 7,000), the pro-government channel Kirovchano with post reads of about 3,000, as well as ZK, with 65,296 subscribers and post reads of only about 5,000).