In Russia, the police checks the phones of citizens for the presence of Telegram

At the end of September, the Readovka edition from Smolensk told about police officers who check the smartphones of citizens for the presence of Telegram. Several readers shared with journalists that law enforcement agencies suspect messenger users of using or selling drugs, writes TJournal.

Фото: Depositphotos

The source of the publication in the local police noted that Telegram has a reputation as a “messenger for drug addicts”, and thanks to the verification of smartphones, it was possible to catch several drug dealers. A representative of the Smolensk police soon began to deny this information.

Telegram is really popular as a platform for the drug business, especially after the closure of the largest darknet store RAMP. Moreover, the messenger has been officially blocked in Russia for more than half a year, therefore, according to the logic of state bodies, the law-abiding citizen will not use it. However, not all Telegram users are criminals, drug addicts or drug traffickers, and many of them will not argue with the police when they inspect a smartphone in order not to get 15 days for disobedience to an employee.

The news from Smolensk was widely distributed in federal media, bloggers published notes on why the actions of the police were illegal, and also shared similar stories. TJ appealed to readers with a request to tell whether they have encountered cases of checking smartphones for the presence of Telegram. A human rights activist from Open Russia explained how to defend her rights in such situations.

All TJ reader names are hidden upon request.

Moscow

“About a year ago I was stopped at the exit from the Botanical Park in Moscow (near the Vladykino metro station). It was late, they took us to a department near the MCC station, where they searched both phones for the presence of the Tor browser. As the operative said, they are looking for Telegram and Tor, because there are a lot of bookmarks in the Botanical Garden.

By the way, they also examined their hands and looked for dirt under their nails.

In September there was a case with a Telegram check by employees of the Rosguard. Near the metro station Glider. Judging by the stories of friends, they always look at photos, notes, recent applications, Telegram and WhatsApp.

If you refuse to unlock your smartphone, they may start to turn it around completely and detain you in the department for 12 hours. Punish for involvement in all sorts of nonsense that happens in the area, plus give some kind of fine for drinking or smoking.”

St. Petersburg

“In 2017, after drinking, I encountered the police. I unlocked my smartphone on demand, which was already a mistake. But the employee also demanded that he enter his Telegram password. I didn’t find anything dangerous there, and there was nothing to catch from me. Department, requests to be allowed to go home - they were released without a protocol.

But with a good friend was worse. He had no experience with the policemen. In a large park I was looking for a bookmark. Stumbled upon the staff of the Rosguards or those who introduced them. Employees demanded unlock phone and Telegram. In the saved messages found the coordinates of the bookmark. Many search engines save addresses to the bookmarks of the messenger. Plus, recent applications on the phone probably hinted at the crime.

Employees went along with a friend to look for treasure. Found it. And they began to breed for money. Lit out. Drugs did not take. This friend is now bookmarked from memory.

At the end of August, the police stopped me on the street and rudely began to demand that I take everything out of my pockets. I put things on the trunk of their car, including their phone. They asked to unblock it, I refused, but they made it clear to me that it would only get worse. I had to obey. They saw Telegram, read most of the chats and let them go.”

Sochi

“At the railway station in Sochi, the police stopped me and checked my Telegram for the presence of “prohibited” items. The policeman asked me to unlock the phone, I didn’t argue because I was late for the train. Opening the phone, the first thing I saw was Telegram. He just went through my correspondence, periodically asking questions: “Who is Fred? Who is Ildar? I answered: “My friends.”

You don't have to believe me. I just wanted to warn you so that you don’t accidentally show the police a photo of your naked wife or something worse,” said Ivan Startsev.

Stavropol

“In early August, I was sitting near the entrance to the bus station in Stavropol. Three policemen, 25-30 years old, approached, introduced themselves and asked to go with them. I didn’t understand what was going on, I didn’t even smoke so I could be fined. They took me to my room and told me to take everything out of my pockets and unlock my phone. We quickly found Telegram and started looking at chats with everyone who didn’t have a real name. They didn’t really read it, they were looking for certain words, as I understand it.

I asked why they were doing this. They say pawnbrokers are caught like this every week. I'm not saying this because it's like blocked? They say no, they sit in it themselves. We didn’t go anywhere else, only Telegram. They behaved normally, there was no aggression, they were joking. They gave me the phone. He took everything he had and left; they didn’t write down my data anywhere and didn’t ask for my passport. I then asked the taxi driver if they often treat someone like this. He said about every hour."

Samara

“A couple of times in 2018, we stopped and checked our smartphone. As I understand it, this is a mandatory requirement. Among my circle, many have either stopped using Telegram or constantly delete the messenger when leaving home.

Once stopped just outside. Check the documents and allegedly for smoking in a public place. They say that in order not to issue a fine, let's just check the phone to see if it has been stolen. When they took, they saw Telegram, took a picture of the screen on their phone and asked to unblock the entrance. I refused - they took me to the police station and there they already crushed a little, but I refused again. They let go. In the same year, they directly approached and said that Operation “Mac” (the annual operation of the Ministry of Internal Affairs against drugs - comment of TJ). Like, looking for addicts.

I have a phone on my phone and a password on a Telegram separately. But the first time I unlocked the phone myself and did not expect anything unusual, but when they took the phone, they could not get into Telegram, it really angered them. I have passwords for almost all applications.

Now the police generally require the phone to be unlocked during each check. If you don’t give it, they take you to the department or they can take you for several hours. This is a real problem for us right now. Therefore, having a cart in itself is unsafe.”

Krasnoyarsk

“I was standing at the bus stop, it was very cold - I decided to go to the pharmacy to warm up. A tall man of about 40 years old flew in, quickly walked towards me and asked: “What are you doing here?” He replied: “I’m corresponding.” He asked to see the documents, and after my questions he showed his ID.

He told me that I was suspected of putting bookmarks. And 15 minutes are already watching me as I stand in the pharmacy and delve into the phone. He demanded to show "Photo Gallery", and to the question why he answered: "Yes, I will find why." I understood that there are two options: either he will poke at me "ksivoy" and argue, or take it to the polling station before "finding out the circumstances".

I chose the option "terpily" - answered questions. He showed him photos, he says: “Show your passport”. I showed, he read the name and said: "I remember your name, somewhere it figured." And I remembered that when I was still living in the village, I was registered. But they hardly know about it. The employee sat down on the courts and started writing something there. I realized that it was time to give a shit. A bus arrived, I asked: “Can I go already? Then I will not have time. The time was closer to 11 in the evening. He answered me: "Nothing, you will leave."

A staff member said: “Do you know how many people stand at this point and how many do we close?”. The dialogue seems to be about anything, but, bitch, scary. If we went to the station, we would definitely find something. Then he asked me about the Telegram. I realized that I have a Telegram, and there it is that it’s better not to see people from the organs. There are no bookmarks, there are just channels where content similar in content is published. He said, "Well, come in." And I know, they have already been given an installation, that the dealers and others use the "cart".

He showed him slowly the correspondence and working chats. And he knew that it was better not to show them to him. He says to me: "You are faster, faster, move." The employee says: "Next", but I really do not want to show further. Then he asked: "And what is this Nural?". This is my colleague, there is a correspondence about money and numbers. A staff member said, “Is this a colleague? And if we call a colleague? I replied: "Well, let's call." And then he says that you do not need to call. While he was writing there, I deleted the chat history in chat rooms.

He told me how often people get caught for bookmarking here, how they go to jail for it, what the time frame is. I said that I have a bus, I won’t leave. He replied: “Okay, go, but it’s better not to come here.” I don’t advise you to find yourself in such situations,” said Ruslan Denisyuk.

MIA Reaction

The press service of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs refutes the information on checking the smartphones of Russians for the presence of the Telegram.

“The information distributed on the Internet about mass checks by employees of territorial internal affairs bodies of citizens’ mobile phones in order to identify instant messengers installed on them and familiarize themselves with personal correspondence does not correspond to reality,” the department said.

The press service of the Interior Ministry added that employees are not allowed to check the correspondence and calls of citizens without a court decision. And they asked those who encountered such a complaint to the police.

“We remind you that the secret of correspondence, telephone conversations, postal, telegraph and other communications is guaranteed by the Constitution of the Russian Federation. Restriction of this right is allowed only on the basis of a court decision.

If a citizen is faced with similar demands from a police officer, he has the right to file a complaint with the supervisory authorities or the relevant internal security unit of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs,” the press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs said.

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