Telegram blocked the VChK-OGPU channel, accusing it of doxxing and extortion. The creators of the channel accused “Major Durov” of blocking

Telegram blocked the “VChK-OGPU” channel, the administration of the messenger announced this, accusing the resource of “ doxing and extortion.” No other details were provided in the statement. All publications that were duplicated in the backup channel also disappeared. Before the blocking, more than 350 thousand people were subscribed to the main channel.

The VChK-OGPU channel, known for publishing compromising information about officials and security forces, had already disappeared from Telegram earlier - on the night of April 7, 2025. Then, according to its creators, the channel was deleted “without any warning,” but Telegram denied any involvement. At the time of the previous blocking, the audience of “VChK-OGPU” exceeded one million subscribers. After the removal of the original resource, its Telegram address was taken over by Vladislav Pozdnyakov, the founder of the “Male State” movement, recognized in Russia as extremist.

In July 2024, the Russian Ministry of Justice added “VChK-OGPU” to the list of “foreign agents”, naming journalists Alexander Shvarev and Alisher Abdullaev as the authors of the channel. Shvarev previously worked for the Rosbalt agency and received political asylum in Latvia.

After the new blocking, the creators of the Cheka-OGPU accused “Major Pavel Durov” of what was happening. According to their version , the channel was blocked after Durov’s visit to the UAE. The authors claim that the entrepreneur is allegedly collaborating with Russian intelligence. It also reports that “one of the authors and friends of the channel” was detained in St. Petersburg, but his name is not specified.

“Durov has recently been closely surrounded by scammers, PR people, fixers, etc., associated with the Russian special services and the administration of the President of the Russian Federation,” says the report of the reserve channel of the Cheka-OGPU.

Shvarev also accused the head of Telegram, Pavel Durov, of censoring the Internet space.

“Everything is very clear - already when Durov announced the fight against extortion in July, it was clear that this was aimed at fighting three channels - us, Black mirror and the Kachur channel. Although the channels are different, they all caused discontent among the oligarchs and intelligence services. You can still buy drugs and pornography on Telegram, but for some reason Durov does not open hotlines to combat them, like extortion. Durov, as far as I know from sources, unofficially said that he would have to remove us sooner or later. On October 30, as far as I know, one of our authors and friends was detained,” he told the BBC.