We have received a response from Telegram regarding a report published in Sri Lanka Guardian that claimed $500 million in Russian-linked bonds had been frozen due to sanctions, stating that the article does not accurately reflect the company’s financial position.
According to the statement, Telegram said it is not dependent on Russia or Russian capital and does not face bond-related issues arising from international sanctions. The company emphasized that its recent fundraising activities demonstrate its financial independence from Russian investors.
Telegram noted that in 2025 it issued $1.7 billion in bonds, with no participation from Russian investors. The company said that nearly the entire bond issuance was purchased by large U.S.-based investment funds, underscoring what it described as the international and diversified nature of its financing.
Addressing the $500 million figure cited in the report, Telegram said this amount relates to a bond issue from 2021. The company added that sanctions do not pose a risk to its bond obligations, explaining that under standard market practice, funds for bond repayments are transferred to an international intermediary. Any subsequent issues affecting bondholders’ ability to receive payments are outside the company’s responsibility once the funds have been transferred.
