An anonymously-run Russian Telegram channel known for sharing leaks from the Russian security services was removed from the platform without warning on Monday, sparking fears that Telegram’s management is cooperating with the Kremlin and meeting its demands to censor certain channels.

In an editorial statement posted on its backup channel, VCHK-OGPU, which had over 1 million members, said that it believed the channel had been deleted by Telegram following a Russian court order requiring its removal for “discrediting the actions of Russian state bodies and the Russian armed forces”.