Russia Charges Telegram Founder Pavel Durov With Aiding Terrorism, Adds Him To Wanted List

Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) has charged Telegram founder Pavel Durov with “aiding terrorism” and placed him on an international wanted list, accusing his messaging platform of failing to remove channels allegedly used for sabotage, terrorism and cybercrime.

The FSB claimed that Telegram channels, chats and bots were being used by Ukrainian intelligence agencies and extremist groups to plan attacks, recruit people and carry out cyber fraud inside Russia. The agency said Telegram’s administration did not take enough action against such content.

The charges come as Moscow has increased pressure on Telegram, one of Russia’s most widely used communication apps. Authorities have been restricting access to the platform while promoting domestic alternatives.

Durov, who left Russia years ago after disputes with authorities over control of his earlier social network VKontakte, has repeatedly defended Telegram’s privacy policies. Earlier this year, he accused Russian officials of creating legal cases to limit free speech and weaken online privacy.

The Telegram founder, who is based in Dubai and holds French and UAE citizenship, has also faced legal trouble in France over allegations linked to illegal activity on the platform, though those cases are separate from Russia’s accusations.

Telegram has not issued a public response to the latest charges. The case has added to the wider global debate over how governments and technology companies should handle harmful content while protecting user privacy.