Telegram CEO Durov put on Russia’s wanted list
The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) has declared Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of Telegram, an internationally wanted person. Moscow accused Durov of complicity in terrorism and claims that he refused to shut down bots, channels and group chats used by extremist groups and the Ukrainian intelligence service.
According to the FSB, these digital spaces were used to coordinate cybercrime and terrorist operations that have led to numerous civilian casualties.
In addition, the country’s Investigative Committee is examining how a specific chatbot, known as Dayvinchik/Leo, was used to recruit young people for sabotage and terrorist acts.
Durov has dismissed these accusations as politically motivated. He claimed that the Russian government is inventing reasons to restrict the availability of Telegram in the country.
This legal battle follows a long history of tensions between the entrepreneur and the Kremlin, as the state seeks greater control over the Internet. Owing to its unique architecture and the availability of secret chats, Telegram remains difficult for governments to monitor, making it a popular choice for millions of Russians.
Durov, originally from Saint Petersburg, first came into the spotlight by founding Vkontakte, often described as the Russian equivalent of Facebook. However, government pressure in the mid‑2010s effectively forced him out of that company, which led him to launch Telegram.
During his stay in France, he faced further legal problems related to the alleged distribution of illegal content on his platform. Critics point out that the Russian government often uses accusations of “extremism” or “terrorism” as a means to silence political dissidents.
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