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Russia Investigates Telegram Founder Durov as Part of Criminal Case, State-Run Newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazeta Reports
Russian authorities accuse Pavel Durov of enabling terrorism and hybrid warfare through Telegram, citing over 153,000 crimes since 2022, including 33,000 linked to sabotage and extremism.
- Rossiyskaya Gazeta and Komsomolskaya Pravda said on February 24, 2026, Russia opened a criminal investigation into Pavel Durov under Part 1.1 of Article 205.1 for facilitating terrorist activity.
- Amid months-long pressure on Telegram, the FSB alleges it refused to provide encryption keys, enabling attacks and involving NATO and Ukraine in 'hybrid warfare,' according to reports.
- Founder Pavel Durov, who lives in Dubai, holds French and UAE citizenship, and was arrested in France in August 2024, has not commented on the investigation, while Telegram has around 90 million users in Russia.
- Russian officials say the measures are intended to impose security, citing the maximum 15-year prison sentence for aiding terrorism under the Criminal Code of Russia Part 1.1, Article 205.1, and link refusals to attacks like the March 2024 Crocus City Hall shooting.
- Telegram and Durov have pushed back, saying the restrictions aim to force Russians onto MAX, while Telegram says it has more than 1 billion active users globally.
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99 Articles
The Russian judiciary is investigating the founder of the Telegram intelligence service for allegations of terrorist support.
Associated Press News
Russia opens criminal investigation against Telegram app founder Pavel Durov
Pavel Durov, the founder of the Telegram messaging app, said he is facing a Russian criminal investigation on charges of “aiding terrorism.”
Restrictions and accusations of "terrorism": the creator of Telegram denounces increased pressure from the Russian authorities on the encrypted courier Pavel Durov, creator of encrypted messaging
The Kremlin accuses the platform of constituting a "potential threat" for the country. - Pavel Durov, founder of Telegram, targeted by a criminal investigation in Russia (International).
One News Page
WebProNewsPavel Durov Under Criminal Investigation in Russia: The Telegram Founder Now Faces Legal Pressure From Both East and West
Telegram founder Pavel Durov faces a new criminal investigation in Russia over drug-related content, adding to his existing French prosecution and raising profound questions about platform liability, encryption, and the competing demands of democratic and authoritarian governments.
Russian law enforcement authorities have initiated criminal proceedings against the co-founder of the Telegram social network Pavel Durov, suspected of supporting terrorist activities, according to a report by the newspaper Russka Gazeta, which is said to be based on information from the Russian intelligence service FSB, reported today by the German news agency dpa.
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