Russia Opens Criminal Case Against Telegram Founder Pavel Durov Over Alleged Terrorism Ties
Russia has opened a criminal investigation into Telegram founder Pavel Durov, accusing him of “abetting terrorist activities” and escalating a long-running standoff between Moscow and the encrypted messaging platform.
The move follows years of tension as Russia has sought to force Telegram to comply with security and censorship demands, triggering restrictions on the app and the Kremlin’s push to shift users to a state-controlled alternative called MAX.
According to Russia’s state-run Rossiyskaya Gazeta and tabloid Komsomolskaya Pravda, the investigation is based on materials provided by the Federal Security Service (FSB), which allege that Telegram is being used by Western and Ukrainian intelligence agencies, radicals and terrorists to coordinate attacks inside Russia.
Russian authorities have already slowed down Telegram’s traffic, citing repeated violations of domestic law and non-compliance with content removal orders.
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“The illusion of anonymity has drawn armies of radicals, drug addicts, killers, and terrorists to the messenger,” one report said of the platform’s misuse.
Moscow’s campaign against Telegram mirrors a broader digital clampdown and reflects growing concern over “hybrid threats” amid the war in Ukraine, with officials describing the app as a potential danger to national security.
Durov, who left Russia in 2014 and now holds French and Emirati citizenship, has not publicly responded to this new investigation, though Telegram previously rejected claims that it aids criminal or intelligence operations.
The outcome of the case and any possible legal actions against Durov remain unclear as independent verification of the terrorism allegations outside Russian state media is limited. Future developments will likely hinge on how Moscow pursues compliance or further restrictions on the platform.
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