Russia has charged Telegram founder Pavel Durov with facilitating terrorist activities, accusing the messaging platform of failing to remove content allegedly used by Ukrainian special services and terrorist and extremist organisations to coordinate sabotage, terrorism, mass killings and cyber-fraud operations inside the country. Russian authorities have also issued an international arrest warrant against the Russian-born entrepreneur, according to media reports.
According
to a Reuters report, Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said the charges stem from Telegram's alleged failure to remove material "used by Ukrainian special services and by terrorist and extremist organisations to prepare and coordinate acts of sabotage and terrorism, mass killings and cyber-fraud operations within the Russian Federation." The FSB also announced that an international warrant had been issued for Mr Durov's arrest.
The
BBC reported that the FSB accused Telegram of being used "to prepare and co-ordinate acts of sabotage and terror" inside Russia and alleged that the platform failed to remove channels, chats and bots used by Ukrainian secret services.
There was no immediate detailed response from Mr Durov or Telegram to the allegations. However, according to Reuters and BBC, Telegram's official account on X posted an image showing Mr Durov making an obscene gesture shortly after the charges were announced. BBC also noted that Mr Durov had previously accused Russian authorities of 'fabricating new pretexts to restrict Russians' access to Telegram'.
The reports said it remains unclear whether countries outside Russia would act on Moscow's international arrest warrant. Mr Durov, who was born in Russia but now holds French and United Arab Emirates (UAE) passports, has lived outside Russia for many years.
Founded in 2013, Telegram has grown into one of the world's largest encrypted messaging platforms, with more than one billion users worldwide, according to Reuters. The application has played a major role in information sharing throughout the Russia-Ukraine conflict and continues to be widely used on both sides of the war.
Despite repeated attempts by Moscow to restrict Telegram's influence and promote the state-backed MAX messaging service as an alternative, Reuters noted that Russian government agencies, including the Kremlin and the defence ministry, continue to use Telegram extensively for official communications.
The latest action marks another escalation in Russia's long-running dispute with Mr Durov and Telegram. Reuters recalled that Russian state media reported in February that Mr Durov was under investigation in a terrorism-related case. In April, Mr Durov disclosed on Telegram that a summons addressed to 'Suspect PV Durov' had been delivered to an apartment in Russia where he had lived two decades earlier.
At the time, Mr Durov wrote that authorities 'must be suspecting me of defending Articles 29 and 23 of the Russian Constitution — which guarantee freedom of speech and the right to private correspondence', adding, "Proud to be guilty!", according to Reuters.
Mr Durov's current whereabouts remain unclear. Reuters reported that a post on his Telegram channel in May suggested he was in Dubai, while another post on 23 July 2026 indicated that he had recently visited Georgia and hoped to return soon.
The case in Russia adds to Mr Durov's legal challenges elsewhere. According to Reuters, French authorities are separately investigating whether Telegram failed to adequately curb criminal activity on its platform and did not sufficiently cooperate with law enforcement requests. Mr Durov has denied any wrongdoing in connection with that investigation.
Super Typhoon Bavi Heading to Taiwan & China Might Disrupt Commodity Supply Chain and Pacific Vessel Supply: Signal Group
Moneylife Digital Team
07 July 2026
Super Typhoon Bavi, currently classified as a Category-5 storm, could severely disrupt shipping operations and commodity supply chains across the Pacific as it approaches Taiwan and China's eastern coast later this week, according to...
US Senate Passes War Powers Resolution Seeking To Restrict Trump's Military Action against Iran
Moneylife Digital Team
24 June 2026
In a rare bipartisan rebuke to president Donald Trump, the US Senate has passed a war powers resolution directing the administration to cease military action against Iran unless authorised by Congress, reflecting growing concern among...
Alan Greenspan: The Maestro Falls Silent
Death And Survivors
Alan Greenspan, the most influential central banker of his era, died on Monday at the age of 100 at his Washington home, from complications of Parkinson’s disease. His death was confirmed by his wife of 29 years,...
UK PM Keir Starmer Resigns; Andy Burnham Emerges as Front-runner
Moneylife Digital Team
22 June 2026
British prime minister Keir Starmer on Monday announced his resignation as prime minister and leader of the Labour Party, bowing to mounting pressure from within his party and triggering a leadership contest that will determine who...
