Moscow: Russia is gradually introducing restrictive measures against WhatsApp, the country's communications regulator Roskomnadzor announced.

According to Anadolu Agency, Roskomnadzor stated that WhatsApp continues to violate Russian law, prompting the gradual imposition of these measures.

The statement from Roskomnadzor's press service, as reported by the RBK news outlet, indicated that the deterioration of WhatsApp calls began in August. The restrictions are being introduced gradually to allow users time to switch to other messaging applications. The move comes as part of ongoing efforts to ensure compliance with Russian legislation.

On Monday, the internet outage monitoring site Sboy.rf and Downdetector reported approximately 1,600 complaints about WhatsApp within a 24-hour period. Users experienced issues with notifications, message sending, and overall app stability.

Previously, Russia restricted calls on both WhatsApp and Telegram, citing security and fraud prevention reasons. In late November, Roskomnadzor warned that a complete block of WhatsApp would occur if the app failed to comply with Russian laws.