Russia's FSB Charges Telegram Founder Durov of Facilitating Terrorism
The FSB says Telegram failed to remove channels and bots used to coordinate sabotage and terrorism, and Durov could face life in prison.
- On Wednesday, July 29, 2026, Russia's Federal Security Service charged Telegram CEO Pavel Durov with facilitating terrorism, alleging the platform failed to remove recruitment bots used by Ukrainian intelligence agencies.
- Since July 2025, Russian authorities alleged Ukrainian operatives used a dating chatbot called Daivinchik/Leo to recruit 46 citizens aged 12 to 22 for sabotage and arson attacks across Russia.
- Durov, facing separate criminal investigations in France, posted an obscene gesture on X following the charges, having previously dismissed Moscow's actions as "new pretexts" to suppress privacy and free speech.
- Authorities are actively promoting the state-backed messenger Max, urging roughly 90 million Telegram users to migrate to the platform, which critics describe as lacking end-to-end encryption.
- If convicted, Durov could face up to life in prison, marking an escalation in Moscow's campaign to consolidate control over digital communications during the ongoing war in Ukraine.
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An international arrest warrant has been issued by Russia for Telegram boss Pavel Durov.
The Daily Advance
Telegram's billionaire founder Pavel Durov has faced legal woes before — in Russia and France
The billionaire founder and CEO of the Telegram messaging app has repeatedly run into trouble with both the Kremlin and Western officials as he cast himself as a champion of free speech. Russia’s Federal Security Service accuses Pavel Durov of…
Russia accuses Pavel Durov, founder of Telegram, of facilitating terrorist activities through the platform, used by Ukrainian security services.
Russia’s main security service said on Wednesday that it had accused Telegram’s founder, one of the most popular messaging apps in the country and around the world, of facilitating terrorism, intensifying the Kremlin’s efforts to restrict all media outlets that are not under its direct control. Security service FSB said in a statement that it had issued an international arrest warrant against Telegram’s founder Pavel Durov, 41, who was born in R…
Zero Hedge
Nemos News NetworkRussia Charges Telegram Founder Pavel Durov With Aiding Terrorism, Issues Arrest Warrant
Russia Charges Telegram Founder Pavel Durov With Aiding Terrorism, Issues Arrest Warrant Authored by Guy Birchall via The Epoch Times, Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said on July 29 that it had charged Telegram founder Pavel Durov with facilitating terrorist activities and issued an international warrant for his arrest. Pavel Durov in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Aug. 1, 2017. Tatan Syuflana/AP Photo The FSB Public Relations Center said in a …
Sydney Morning Herald
Billionaire gives Moscow the middle finger after being placed on Russia’s most wanted list
The controversial Russian-born founder of the Telegram messaging app has never shied away from the spotlight and claims to have fathered more than 100 children. Now Moscow has charged him with “aiding terrorism”.
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