Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) has formally charged Telegram founder Pavel Durov with aiding terrorist activity, alleging that the messaging platform failed to remove channels, chats, and bots used to coordinate attacks inside Russia.

The charge, filed on July 29 under Part 1.1 of Article 205.1 of Russia's Criminal Code, accuses Telegram of serving as infrastructure for Ukrainian intelligence services and extremist groups. Russian authorities claim these actors used the platform to recruit individuals for sabotage, arson, attacks on law enforcement, and strikes targeting transport, energy, communications, and financial facilities.

The FSB also placed Durov on an international wanted list, though it did not specify the legal mechanism it intends to use to pursue his arrest abroad. Russia has not confirmed an Interpol Red Notice, and the FSB's announcement did not include an extradition request or a court-issued international arrest warrant.

According to the FSB, 46 Russian citizens between the ages of 12 and 22 have been arrested since July 2025 after being contacted through Daivinchik, also known as Leo, a popular Telegram dating bot. Ukraine had not publicly responded to the allegations at the time of publication.

Telegram Responds With Defiant Image

Telegram's official X account responded to the charges by posting an image of a younger Durov raising his middle finger. The account issued no accompanying written statement, and Durov had not separately addressed the formal charge.

The filing marks an escalation of an investigation first opened in February, when Russian authorities accused Telegram of becoming a tool for Ukrainian intelligence and Western influence. A summons addressed to Durov was subsequently delivered to an apartment where he had resided roughly two decades earlier.

Durov previously described the proceedings as an attempt to fabricate grounds for restricting Telegram, arguing that Russia was targeting constitutional protections for free speech and private correspondence. Moscow's parallel campaign to throttle Telegram and restrict VPN access has already driven millions of Russian users toward circumvention tools, even as Russian ministries, military officials, and state bodies continue to publish through the platform.

The charge renews a long-running confrontation between Durov and Russian authorities. Russia banned Telegram in 2018 after the company refused to provide encryption keys to the FSB under a counterterrorism law, but lifted the ban in 2020 after it proved technically unenforceable. Telegram has since become Russia's most widely used messaging and information platform, with both pro-government and opposition voices relying on it for real-time news, coordination, and public communication.

Legal Pressure Mounts Across Jurisdictions

Durov resides in Dubai and holds French and Emirati citizenship. He founded the Russian social network VK before leaving the country in 2014 after refusing demands to hand over information connected to Ukrainian protest organizers.

French authorities arrested Durov in 2024 over allegations that Telegram failed to adequately address criminal activity on the platform and did not sufficiently cooperate with investigators. Durov has denied wrongdoing, maintaining that Telegram removes harmful content and exceeds its legal obligations to assist law enforcement.

The simultaneous legal pressure from both Russia and France places Telegram in an increasingly difficult position across multiple jurisdictions. Each government is demanding greater cooperation on content moderation and data sharing, yet the demands are often directed at different targets: Russia wants channels tied to Ukrainian operations removed, while France has pushed for broader compliance with European content and investigation standards.

The Russian charge comes as Telegram continues expanding into digital assets. The company recently announced a native Gram wallet rollout across its applications, introducing self-custody and TON-based transfers to a platform serving more than one billion users.