All universities in Tatarstan will implement a digital student ID in the Max messenger, said the Minister of Digital Development of the republic.

      It will be used as a student ID and grade book. All universities in Tatarstan plan to implement a digital student ID in the Max messenger. This was announced by the Minister of Digital Development of the Republic, Ilya Nachvin, as reported by "Real Time." According to Nachvin, the service is currently operating in pilot mode and has been launched in nine universities. The specific universities have not been disclosed. The function is available only for Russian citizens over 18 years old. It is reported that the digital student ID is a QR code created based on the data from the "Gosuslugi" account. With it, a smartphone can be used as an electronic student ID and grade book. "In addition, the service allows confirming student status — for example, when entering the university," clarifies "Real Time." "Max is being implemented in the universities of the republic. In total, we have 45 universities, including branches and main universities, all of which have created channels and chats in Max," noted Rami Muzipov, the First Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Tatarstan. In mid-December last year, the publication "Grozа" reported that the Kazan Federal University’s Chemical Institute plans to introduce access passes to the building through Max. Later, the press service of KFU stated that "this information does not correspond to reality." Earlier, "Idel.Realii" reported that a nationwide campaign for the forced implementation of the "national" messenger Max is gaining momentum in Russia. Despite the authorities' statements that its installation is purely voluntary, independent media and social media users report coercion of university students, school pupils, and parents of kindergarten children. The messenger is also being forcibly implemented in housing chats, where information from management companies is posted. In an interview with "Idel.Realii," the head of the "Internet Protection Society," Mikhail Klimarev, stated that "the main danger of the Max messenger right now is not that it is spying on us." — "The main danger of Max — if you install it and start using it regularly and constantly — is that the authorities will consider that the messenger is, in principle, ready to replace Telegram. And they will block Telegram," Klimarev said. Today, Ilya Nachvin also reported that, as of March 2026, about 1.5 million residents of Tatarstan use the Max messenger. Max is a Russian cross-platform messenger launched by the technology company VK in 2025 through its subsidiary, LLC "Communication Platform." It is officially positioned as a "national messenger" and is promoted at the state level — simultaneously with the blocking or "slowing down" of Telegram, WhatsApp, and other foreign messengers. The Russian authorities emphasize convenience: that in one application, Russians will have access to familiar chats and calls, access to public services, digital ID and electronic signature, payments, mini-apps and services for business, as well as communication between citizens and government agencies and educational institutions. Many experts consider Max to be an unsafe and unprotected messenger, controlled by the authorities. Subscribe to our channel on Telegram.