Why Russia Is Seeking Telegram Founder Pavel Durov's Arrest

Russia announced on Wednesday that it was seeking the arrest of Telegram founder Pavel Durov over accusations of "complicity in terrorism", alleging he had let the platform be used for recruitment by Ukraine's security services.

Andrei Svintsov, who serves as deputy chair of the Information Policy Committee in Russia’s State Duma, the lower house of parliament, told the Russian-language broadcaster RTVI that the criminal case charging Telegram founder Pavel Durov with aiding terrorism does not prohibit Russians from using the messenger, but th

Russia charged Pavel Durov, the founder, owner and CEO of the messaging app Telegram, with aiding terrorism and put him on an international wanted list, the country’s main domestic security agency said Wednesday. The charges against Durov, who was born and began his career in Russia but later moved abroad, came as Russ

In the West, we are concerned about big tech's influence on our politics and societies. Russians have the opposite problem.

Pavel Durov, 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

Pavel Durov, 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

The founder of Telegram was the target of a international warrant issued by Russia which wants him on charges the app was used to organize "terror" attacks.

Russia has charged Telegram's founder Pavel Durov with facilitating terrorism over allegations the messenger app has been used for recruitment by Ukrainian secret services.

Russia charges Telegram founder Durov with 'aiding terrorism'  thenationalnews.com

Russia charged Pavel Durov, the founder, owner and CEO of the messaging app Telegram, with aiding terrorism and put him on an international wanted list, the country’s main domestic security agency said Wednesday.

Russia seeks arrest of Telegram chief Durov  euractiv.com

Soon after the charges were announced, Telegram's official account on X posted an image of Durov making an obscene gesture.

Russia's FSB says Telegram has not pulled content used by Ukrainian intelligence and 'terrorist' groups to plan attacks.

The charges against Pavel Durov reflected an ongoing fight over one of the most popular messaging and media apps in the country.

Moscow claims the platform allows Ukrainian intelligence services to recruit spies and support terrorist activities.

The FSB claims the messenger app, created by Pavel Durov, has failed to remove accounts and channels used for recruitment by Ukraine's secret service.

Durov, 41, lives in France, where he has also faced legal issues over allegations concerning the spread of illegal content on Telegram.

MOSCOW, July 29 (Reuters) - Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said on Wednesday that it had charged Telegram founder Pavel Durov with facilitating terrorist activities and had issued an international warrant for his arrest. The FSB said that the charges related to Telegram's failure to remove material "used by Uk

Russia charges Telegram founder Pavel Durov with aiding terrorism, puts him on wanted listRussia's Federal Security Service (FSB) on Wednesday charged Telegram founder Pavel Durov with aiding terrorist activities and placed him on an international wanted list, accusing the messaging platform of failing to remove conten

MOSCOW: Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said on Wednesday (Jul 29) that it had charged Telegram founder Pavel Durov with facilitating terrorist activities and had issued an international warrant for his arrest.The FSB said that the charges related to Telegram's failure to remove material "used by Ukrainian spec

Russian authorities charged Telegram founder Pavel Durov with facilitating terrorist activity and placed him on an international wanted list. The FSB linked the allegations to Telegram content it claims was used by Ukrainian intelligence services

Durov, who holds French and UAE passports and has lived outside Russia for years, called the case politically motivated. The Kremlin frequently targets its political enemies on charges of supporting "terrorism" or "extremism".

Telegram, an encrypted messenger app founded in 2013, says it has more than 1 billion users and is widely used on both sides of the Russia-Ukraine war.

Russian authorities accuse Telegram of failing to remove content used by Ukrainian intelligence services and “extremist” groups.

Moscow has escalated its pressure on Telegram, accusing the platform of hosting tools used to coordinate deadly attacks and sabotage across Russia.

Russia’s main domestic security agency said that Pavel Durov, the founder of messaging app Telegram, has been charged with “aiding terrorism” and put on an international wanted list.The charges against Mr Durov, who was born and began his career in Russia but later moved abroad, come as Russian authorities restrict Tel

He has been put on an international wanted list

Russia’s main domestic security agency said Wednesday that Pavel Durov, founder of the messaging app Telegram, has been charged with aiding terrorism and put on an international wanted list. The charges against Durov, who was born and began his career in Russia but later moved abroad, come as the Russian authorities re

Russia’s main domestic security agency said Wednesday that Pavel Durov, founder of the messaging app Telegram, has been charged with “aiding terrorism” and put on an international wanted list.

The FSB says the charges are related to Telegram's failure to remove material 'used by Ukrainian special services and by terrorist and extremist organizations to prepare and coordinate acts of sabotage and terrorism... within the Russian Federation'

1 min readUpdated: Jul 29, 2026 12:28 PM IST Telegram co-founder Pavel Durov, center, smiles following his meeting with Indonesian Communication and Information Minister Rudiantara in Jakarta, Indonesia on August. (AP) Russia on Wednesday charged Telegram founder Pavel Durov with “aiding terrorism” and has put the mess

MOSCOW, July 29 - Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said on Wednesday that it had charged Telegram founder Pavel Durov with facilitating terrorist activities, and that it had issued an international warrant for his arrest.

Russia charges Telegram founder Pavel Durov with aiding terrorism and puts him on wanted list  AP News

Russia charged billionaire Telegram co-founder Pavel Durov with aiding terrorism, accusing him of allowing the popular messaging app to be used by Ukrainian security services.

Russia's FSB charges Telegram founder Durov with facilitating terrorism, Ifax says  Reuters