Reported by
Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) has charged Telegram founder Pavel Durov with aiding terrorist activity and placed him on an international wanted list, as the Kremlin intensifies pressure on the messaging platform.
The FSB accused Telegram of failing to remove channels, chats and bots allegedly used by Ukrainian intelligence services and groups designated by Russia as terrorist or extremist organizations to coordinate attacks, sabotage and cyber fraud.
The agency claimed that crimes organized through the platform caused “numerous human casualties,” including among women and children, as well as extensive financial damage. It did not identify specific incidents or present evidence supporting the allegations in its statement.
In a related announcement, the FSB alleged that Ukrainian intelligence services had recruited young Russians through DaiVinchik/Leo, a popular Telegram dating bot. The agency claimed that 46 people ages 12 to 22 had been detained across 16 Russian regions since July 2025 after allegedly being recruited to attack police officers and set fire to transport, energy and communications infrastructure.
Russia’s Investigative Committee has opened cases involving allegations of terrorism, sabotage, recruitment of minors and intentional destruction of property. The authorities’ claims could not be independently verified.
The criminal investigation against Durov was first reported in February. At the time, he described it as another pretext for Russian authorities to restrict Telegram and suppress privacy and freedom of speech.
“Every day, authorities invent new pretexts to limit Russians’ access to Telegram,” Durov wrote, calling Russia “a state afraid of its own people.”
Shortly after the FSB’s announcement, Telegram’s official account on X responded by posting an archival photograph of Durov making an obscene gesture with his middle finger. Neither Telegram nor Durov issued a further statement before publication.
Russia began restricting Telegram in the summer of 2025 and subsequently intensified disruptions to the service. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on July 27 that officials remained in contact with Telegram about restoring its operation, but claimed the company’s representatives were not actively engaging.
In 2025, an investigation by OCCRP and IStories found that Telegram routed user traffic through infrastructure managed by a businessman whose Russian companies had surveillance contracts with the FSB. Telegram later rejected the findings, insisting that it operates its servers internally and that unauthorized access is impossible.
OCCRP contacted Telegram and Durov for comment through the company’s official press channel but did not receive a response by publication.
