The Russian Federal Security Service announced on Wednesday that Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, has been charged with aiding terrorist activity and added to an international wanted list. The charges fall under a serious criminal offense with a potential life sentence under Russia’s Article 205.1 Part 1.1.
The FSB alleges that Telegram has allowed numerous channels, bots, and chats to operate freely, which are allegedly used by Ukrainian intelligence and extremist groups to organize sabotage and attacks inside Russia. According to the accusations, these activities have reportedly led to deaths, including civilians, and caused billions in economic damage. This marks an escalation in Moscow’s long-standing crackdown on Telegram.
Telegram plays a notable role in the crypto ecosystem as a major distribution platform for project communities, trading groups, and blockchain-based mini-applications. In May, Telegram took over operational control of The Open Network (TON) and became its largest validator. TON’s token, Gram (formerly Toncoin), is used for payments and tokenized assets within Telegram, connecting to over a billion users. Recently, Durov announced plans to release a native, non-custodial Gram wallet for all Telegram users.
This latest charge follows months of tightening regulation. Russian authorities began restricting Telegram in August 2025, with Roskomnadzor stating in February that the platform had failed to comply with Russian law, leading to ongoing restrictions and fines surpassing 100 million rubles ($1.25 million) this year. The fines mainly stem from Telegram’s refusal to remove content deemed illegal by Russian regulators.
Durov previously faced legal troubles in France in August 2024, after being arrested over alleged failure to prevent illegal activity on Telegram. This incident pushed Telegram to revise its content moderation policies.
Gram’s price has fallen 6% over the past week to around $1.42 amid these developments.
This material is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.
