Telegram shortlinks knocked offline over sanctioned VPN connection

The US Treasury's OFAC sanctioned First VPN Service (1VPNS) on July 13 for aiding ransomware groups. The.ME domain registry suspended Telegram's entire t.me domain because a 1VPNS channel used it. Telegram CEO Pavel Durov publicly asked for investigation. After Telegram removed affiliations with 1VPNS, the domain was restored roughly 19 hours later.