Russia Puts Telegram Founder Pavel Durov on Wanted List, Charges Him With Aiding Terrorism

Russia has charged Telegram founder Pavel Durov with aiding terrorism and placed him on an international wanted list, marking one of the Kremlin's strongest actions yet against the billionaire entrepreneur as the country tightens its grip on digital platforms.

The Federal Security Service (FSB) announced on Wednesday that Telegram's management allegedly failed to remove channels, chats and bots that authorities claim were being used by Ukrainian intelligence agencies, terrorists and extremist groups to coordinate sabotage, cybercrime and attacks inside Russia. Investigators alleged that these activities resulted in multiple casualties.

According to the FSB, Ukrainian security agencies allegedly used a Telegram-based dating chatbot to recruit young Russians for sabotage missions. Authorities claimed that 46 users, aged between 12 and 22, have been detained since July 2025 on charges ranging from arson to attacks on law enforcement personnel.

Durov, who was born in Russia but later left the country, has rejected the accusations. Earlier this year, he revealed that Russian authorities had opened a criminal investigation against him, alleging that the case was being used as a pretext to restrict Telegram and suppress privacy and free speech. If convicted under Russian law, he could face life imprisonment.

Telegram, headquartered in Dubai, did not immediately comment on the charges. Durov currently resides in the UAE and also holds French citizenship.

The case comes as Russia intensifies efforts to bring the internet under tighter state control following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Authorities have already banned or restricted several global platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, Signal, Viber, WhatsApp and Telegram, while promoting the state-backed messaging platform MAX, which critics say offers weaker privacy protections and greater government access to user data.

Durov has also faced legal scrutiny outside Russia. In 2024, he was arrested in France over allegations that Telegram was being used for illegal activities, including drug trafficking and child sexual abuse material distribution. He later returned to Dubai after spending several months in France.

Russian President Vladimir Putin had previously criticised France's action against Durov, calling it "selective", while arguing that many online platforms face similar challenges over how their services are used by criminals.