Russia Charges Telegram Founder Pavel Durov With Aiding Terrorism, Puts Him On International Wanted List
Russia Charges Telegram Founder Pavel Durov With Aiding Terrorism, Puts Him On International Wanted List Published By, Last Updated: July 29, 2026, 12:55 IST Russia
Russia Charges Telegram Founder Pavel Durov With Aiding Terrorism, Puts Him On International Wanted List Published By, Last Updated: July 29, 2026, 12:55 IST Russia has charged Telegram founder Pavel Durov with facilitating terrorist activities and issued an international wanted notice against him. Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) has issued an international wanted notice for Telegram founder Pavel Durov, accusing him of facilitating alleged Ukraine-linked terrorist activities through the messaging platform. Durov has not immediately commented on the charges. (Photo: AP) Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) on Wednesday charged Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov with facilitating terrorist activities and issued an international wanted notice against him, accusing the messaging platform of failing to remove content allegedly used by Ukrainian intelligence agencies and extremist groups to coordinate attacks inside Russia. The move marks a significant escalation in Moscow’s long-running efforts to tighten control over the country’s digital space and comes amid increasing restrictions on Telegram and other foreign online platforms. Reuters reported that the FSB accused Telegram of failing to remove material “used by Ukrainian special services and by terrorist and extremist organisations to prepare and coordinate acts of sabotage and terrorism, mass killings, and cyber-fraud operations within the Russian Federation." ALSO READ | Inside Telegram’s Secret ‘Driving School’ For Sexual Predators: Chilling Code Used To Hide Crimes In Plain Sight The FSB said it had issued an international warrant for Durov’s arrest.
FSB ALLEGES TELEGRAM WAS USED FOR RECRUITMENT AND SABOTAGE According to AP, the Russian security agency alleged that Telegram’s administration failed to remove “numerous channels, chats and bots" that were “actively used by Ukrainian intelligence agencies, terrorist, and extremist organisations" to prepare and coordinate acts of sabotage, terrorism, cyber fraud and mass killings in Russia, resulting in “numerous human casualties." AFP reported that the FSB further alleged Telegram had become a recruitment platform for Ukrainian security services seeking to coerce Russians into carrying out sabotage operations, and accused Durov of failing to remove what it described as “prohibited information." The report mentioned that Moscow has frequently used accusations of supporting “terrorism" or “extremism" against its political opponents and critics. A LONG-STANDING DISPUTE WITH THE KREMLIN Durov, 41, was born in Saint Petersburg but has lived outside Russia for years and now holds French and United Arab Emirates passports. Before launching Telegram in 2013, Durov founded VKontakte (VK), often referred to as “Russia’s Facebook." Reuters reported that he sold his remaining stake in the company in 2014 after coming under pressure from Russian authorities. He was effectively forced out of the company as the Kremlin tightened its influence over the platform. ALSO READ | Chinese Men Used Telegram Groups To Share Rape Videos, Tips On Drugging Women Earlier this year, Durov revealed that Russian authorities had opened a criminal investigation against him.
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