Russia puts Telegram founder Pavel Durov on international wanted list over terrorism claims
Photo: Pavel Durov (Getty Images)
Russian authorities have charged Telegram founder Pavel Durov under an article related to facilitating terrorism. He has also been placed on an international wanted list, according to the Russian state news agency RIA Novosti.
This time, Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) has brought a series of accusations against Durov, including:
- Telegram allegedly failed to remove channels, chats, and bots that, according to the FSB, were actively used by Ukrainian intelligence services to prepare "terrorist attacks and mass killings" in Russia;
- Crimes that the FSB claims were committed by Ukrainian intelligence through Telegram allegedly resulted in numerous casualties, including women and children, and caused billions in damages;
- Ukrainian intelligence officers allegedly posed as young women and contacted Russian men through the Telegram dating service Dayvinchik, then, according to the FSB, deceived them into engaging in terrorist activities;
- Since July 2025, authorities in 16 Russian regions have detained 46 young Dayvinchik users who, according to the Russian side, attacked police officers and carried out arson attacks on instructions from Ukrainian intelligence services.
These claims are statements made by Russia's FSB and have not been independently verified.
Who is Pavel Durov?
Pavel Durov is a Russian programmer, entrepreneur, and billionaire best known as the founder of Telegram.
In 2006, he founded the social network VKontakte (VK), which became Russia's largest social media platform.
In 2014, he left Russia after falling out with the authorities and losing control of VK. According to Durov, he refused to comply with demands from Russian security services regarding user data and opposition communities.
In 2013, he and his brother Nikolai Durov launched the Telegram messaging app.
In August 2024, Durov was detained in France. French authorities brought charges related to insufficient moderation of illegal content on Telegram, after which he was released on bail.
