Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) announced that it has charged Telegram founder Pavel Durov with assisting terrorist activity and has placed him on an international wanted list.
A statement released by the FSB on 29 July said the charges stem from an article of Russia’s Criminal Code which deals with helping terrorist activity. The clause carries a maximum prison sentence of 15 years.
The secret service said Telegram failed to remove content banned under Russian law, despite repeated requests. It also accused the platform of letting channels, chats, and bots, which it says are used by Ukrainian intelligence recruiters, remain online. Russian authorities also claim Telegram has helped groups they label as terrorist or extremist.
The FSB has not provided evidence to support its claims. Neither Telegram nor Durov have commented on the announcement so far.
Telegram’s relationship with Russia
These charges are the latest step in Russia’s ongoing dispute with Telegram over content moderation and compliance with Russian regulations.
Relations between Telegram and Moscow have shifted in recent years. While Russian officials increasingly use the platform for public communication, authorities have continued to accuse Telegram of failing to remove content they consider illegal, including extremism.
Despite occasional fines and official criticism, Telegram is still widely available in Russia and is used by government agencies, state media, and millions of people.
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