Russia Charges Telegram Founder Pavel Durov with Aiding Terrorist Activity

Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) has formally charged Telegram founder Pavel Durov with assisting terrorist activity, escalating a long-standing standoff between Moscow and the messaging platform.

According to details reported by the Interfax news agency, the state security agency invoked Part 1.1 of Article 205.1 of the Russian criminal code. The FSB claims Telegram repeatedly failed to remove channels, group chats, and automated bots allegedly used by Ukrainian intelligence services and extremist groups to coordinate sabotage, cyber fraud, and violent attacks inside Russian territory. Security officials alleged these activities resulted in civilian casualties and extensive property damage.

Shortly after announcing the charges, the FSB stated it had taken 46 Russian citizens into custody, alleging they were recruited by Ukrainian agencies via a Telegram-based dating bot.

Durov, who left Russia in 2014 after losing control of his previous venture, VKontakte, following refusals to hand over user data to security services, currently resides in Dubai. He holds citizenship in four nations: Russia, France, the United Arab Emirates, and Saint Kitts and Nevis.

The domestic wanted-list status designated by Russian authorities holds legal weight primarily within Russian jurisdiction and does not automatically compel foreign governments to execute an arrest. Any broader cross-border enforcement would necessitate a formal request and independent evaluation by Interpol, the international criminal police organization.

The move by Moscow creates an unusual legal position for Durov, who is already confronting severe legal scrutiny in Western Europe. French prosecutors indicted Durov in 2024 on allegations involving platform complicity in drug trafficking, organized fraud, and child sexual abuse material. He was released under judicial supervision after posting a €5 million ($5.5 million) bail. In both instances, opposing governments in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict have leveled similar arguments against Telegram, alleging the platform refuses to moderate illegal content or cooperate with criminal investigations. Durov has consistently rejected the accusations, describing the French prosecution as “legally and logically absurd.”

Responding to earlier inquiries when the Russian case opened in February, Durov stated that Moscow was attempting to “fabricate new pretexts” to cut off access to the platform, describing the actions as evidence of a regime fearful of open communication. Following Wednesday’s FSB announcement, Telegram’s social media channel on X posted a photo depicting Durov raising his middle finger.

Russia has systematically increased pressure on the app over the past year. Authorities initiated platform access restrictions last August and have levied fines totaling 100 million rubles (approximately $1.3 million) in 2025 for non-compliance with content removal mandates. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov acknowledged ongoing discussions regarding the platform’s status, while noting that Telegram’s representatives were “not very active” in negotiations. Simultaneously, Russian authorities have been promoting MAX, a state-supported messaging alternative that digital rights researchers have criticized as a surveillance platform.

Despite the geopolitical friction, Telegram has pushed forward with expanding its financial ecosystem inside the app. The company recently announced plans to distribute a native, non-custodial wallet for its native crypto asset, GRAM—formerly known as Toncoin before a major community rebranding vote in June—to its user base of more than one billion people. The token was trading down 2.5 percent at $1.42 following the latest legal announcements.