Russia’s Federal Security Service accused Pavel Durov, founder of Telegram, of enabling terrorist activities, adding him to an international wanted list. The charges accuse Telegram of allowing channels and bots tied to Ukrainian intelligence to operate, which allegedly facilitated recruitment and violent acts within Russia.
Details of the Charges Against Durov
On July 29, 2026, the FSB formally charged Durov under Article 205.1, Part 1.1 of Russia’s Criminal Code, which targets assistance to terrorist activity and can lead to long prison sentences. The case centers on Telegram’s failure to remove online channels, chats, and bots reportedly linked to Ukrainian intelligence and extremist organizations. The authorities claim these were used to recruit individuals and coordinate attacks, including arson and assaults on police officers. Since July 2025, 46 young people have been detained across 16 Russian regions in connection with these alleged crimes. A particularly notable accusation involves Ukrainian operatives using Telegram’s dating feature to contact Russian men for recruitment.
Ongoing Tensions Between Telegram and Russian Government
Durov has long been at odds with Russian authorities. Before creating Telegram, he founded VKontakte (VK). After refusing to comply with demands to block opposition groups and hand over user data during protests, Durov left Russia in 2014 following the loss of control over VK. Telegram has resisted Kremlin pressure repeatedly, including rejecting a 2017 order to provide encryption keys under anti-terror laws. The criminal case opened in early 2026 is seen by Durov as an attempt to pressure Telegram and erode user privacy and free speech protections.
Despite these escalating legal challenges, Durov remains outside Russia and continues to run Telegram from abroad. No court date has been announced yet, and the international wanted status marks a sharp intensification of the standoff.
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