Russia’s Federal Security Service charged Telegram founder Pavel Durov with aiding terrorist activity, accusing the messaging platform of failing to remove channels, chats and bots allegedly used to organise attacks inside Russia.
The July 29 charge was filed under Part 1.1 of Article 205.1 of Russia’s criminal code. The FSB also placed Durov on an international wanted list, although it did not identify the legal mechanism it would use to seek his arrest abroad.
Russian authorities alleged that Ukrainian intelligence services and extremist groups used Telegram infrastructure to recruit people for sabotage, arson, attacks on law enforcement and strikes against transport, energy, communications and financial facilities.
The FSB said 46 Russians between the ages of 12 and 22 had been arrested since July 2025 after being contacted through Daivinchik, also known as Leo, a popular Telegram dating bot. Ukraine had not responded to the allegations at publication.
Telegram Posts Defiant Durov Image
Telegram’s official X account responded by posting an image of a younger Durov raising his middle finger. The account added no written statement, while Durov had not separately addressed the formal charge.
The filing escalates an investigation opened in February, when Russian authorities accused Telegram of becoming a tool for Ukrainian intelligence and Western influence. A summons addressed to Durov was later delivered to an apartment where he had lived roughly two decades earlier.
Durov called the earlier proceedings an attempt to fabricate grounds for restricting Telegram and said Russia was targeting constitutional protections for free speech and private correspondence.
Moscow’s campaign to throttle Telegram and restrict VPN access had already pushed millions of Russian users toward circumvention tools, while Russian ministries, military officials and state bodies continued publishing through the platform.
Wanted Notice Adds To Legal Pressure
Durov lives in Dubai and holds French and Emirati citizenship. He founded Russian social network VK before leaving the country in 2014 after refusing demands to hand over information connected to Ukrainian protest organisers.
French authorities arrested him in 2024 over allegations that Telegram failed to sufficiently address criminal activity and cooperate with investigators. Durov denies wrongdoing and says the platform removes harmful content while exceeding its legal obligations to assist law enforcement.
The Russian charge arrives as Telegram expands further into digital assets. The company recently announced a native Gram wallet rollout across its applications, bringing self-custody and TON-based transfers into a platform serving more than one billion users.
Russia had not confirmed an Interpol Red Notice for Durov, and the FSB’s announcement did not specify an extradition request or court-issued international arrest warrant.
