A Volzhsky resident was suspended from work after requesting a rally in defense of Telegram.

The activist claims that security forces threatened her employer with problems and forced her to sign a "warning" refusing to participate in extremist activity, but did not provide a copy.

As reported by "Kavkazsky Knot," in early March, a 20-year-old resident of Volzhsky submitted documents to the Volgograd mayor's office requesting approval for a protest against the blocking and slowdown of the popular messaging app Telegram. In response, the Volgograd mayor's office proposed postponing the event "until the situation stabilizes." The organizer refused, after which "plainclothes men" came to her.

The activist's suspension following a visit from security forces to her workplace was reported by the organizer of the rally on her Telegram channel "LUCH."

According to her, shortly after submitting her application, three "plainclothes men" came to her job and showed her and the company's management "red cards." The woman claims that the security forces threatened her employer with problems and forced her to sign a "warning" refusing to participate in extremist activity, but did not provide a copy of the document. They also tried to get information from her about her relatives, acquaintances, and her activity on Telegram.

"Pressure is starting: on me and the company. Threats of criminal charges, possible provocations, continuous inspections, fines for the company. They asked about my relatives ("Where's my boyfriend, who's my dad?"), which bloggers I follow, who I communicate with on Telegram. "Telegram has angry Ukrainians, Max is safe, the protest is a threat to residents." Management is pale—they're afraid for their business," the activist wrote in her post.

After the security forces' visit, the company's management announced it was temporarily suspending her from work "until things calm down." She expressed concerns about her dismissal and said she was preparing a complaint to the prosecutor's office.

"Varvara, suspend work at the company. At least until everything calms down," she quoted her manager as saying in her message.

The organizer of the rally in defense of Telegram also reported that she, together with lawyers, is preparing an appeal to other regulatory agencies.

"My lawyer and I are preparing complaints to the FSB and higher authorities. We are asking for a full investigation. We need maximum publicity. Activism is being stifled in the Volgograd region. Repost, write stories in the comments, invite bloggers," she urged in the message.

"Kavkazsky "Uzel" also reported that the Abinsky District Court of the Krasnodar Territory fined local resident Ivan Kazhan 1,000 rubles for displaying extremist symbols. This is the first known punishment in Russia for content in the state-run messenger.