Russia Charges Telegram Founder Pavel Durov With Facilitating Terrorist Activities

Moscow: Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) has charged Telegram founder Pavel Durov with allegedly facilitating terrorist activities and has initiated the process of placing him on the international wanted list, according to Russian state media.

The FSB claims that Telegram failed to remove channels, chats, and bots that were allegedly used by Ukrainian intelligence agencies to coordinate attacks inside Russia. Authorities also allege that Telegram’s dating services were used to recruit Russian citizens for terrorist-related activities.

According to Russian legal experts, Durov could face arrest in absentia as part of legal proceedings aimed at seeking his extradition through Interpol. Russian media reports suggest that, if convicted, the charges could carry a potential life sentence under Russian law.

Pavel Durov has not publicly responded to the latest allegations.

This is not the first time Durov has faced legal scrutiny. He has previously been investigated in France over allegations that illegal content on Telegram, including child sexual abuse material, fraud, and drug trafficking, was not adequately addressed by the platform.

The latest charges have drawn international attention and are likely to intensify ongoing debates over the responsibilities of encrypted messaging platforms in combating criminal and terrorist activities. The allegations remain unproven, and the legal process is ongoing.