Russia has formally charged Telegram founder Pavel Durov with facilitating terrorist activities and issued an international arrest warrant, marking a major escalation in the Kremlin’s long-running dispute with the messaging platform.
The allegations were announced Wednesday by Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), which claims Telegram failed to remove content allegedly used to coordinate sabotage, terrorism and cyber-fraud operations inside the country.
According to the FSB, the case centers on Telegram’s alleged failure to delete channels and other material that Russian authorities say were used by Ukrainian intelligence agencies, as well as terrorist and extremist groups, to organize attacks, acts of sabotage, mass killings and online fraud targeting Russia. Officials said an international arrest warrant has also been issued for Durov. Neither Durov nor Telegram immediately responded to the latest accusations, although Telegram later posted an image of its founder on social media without issuing a formal statement.
Telegram, launched by Durov in 2013, has grown into one of the world’s largest messaging platforms with more than one billion users. The app has played a central role in communication during the Russia-Ukraine war and remains widely used by civilians, journalists and officials on both sides of the conflict.
The new charges represent the latest step in Moscow’s efforts to increase control over Telegram while promoting the state-backed MAX messaging service as a domestic alternative. Despite repeated attempts to limit Telegram’s influence, the platform continues to be widely used across Russia.
Durov, who was born in Russia and later became a citizen of France and the United Arab Emirates, founded the Russian social network VKontakte before leaving the country in 2014 after disputes with Russian authorities. He is also facing a separate investigation in France over allegations that Telegram did not do enough to combat criminal activity or cooperate with law enforcement requests. Durov has denied wrongdoing in connection with the French case
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