Telegram founder Durov: Apple removed Telegram from App Store without warning

Pavel Durov, founder of Telegram, disclosed that Apple removed the Telegram application from the App Store without any prior notification. According to reports from Milliyet and verification platform teyit.org, the application is no longer available for download from the store on iOS devices.

Durov stated that Apple did not inform them in advance of the decision; the reasoning behind the removal was not shared with the public. Apple has not yet issued an official statement.

Telegram is used as a primary communication channel by journalists, opposition groups, and millions of ordinary users in many countries, notably Turkey. The application was temporarily blocked in Brazil by court order in 2022; at that time, Durov had defended the platform's independence using similar forceful language. It remains unclear whether the current removal is permanent or temporary.