Russia charges Telegram founder Pavel Durov with terrorism
Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) has formally charged Telegram founder Pavel Durov with complicity in terrorist activities and placed him on an international wanted list.
Russian authorities claim the platform refused to delete channels, chat groups, and bots allegedly used by Ukrainian special services and extremist organizations to coordinate attacks inside Russia.
Severe legal penalties
According to official statements, Durov faces between eight and 15 years in prison, potential fines of up to €7,900, or a life sentence.
Russian prosecutors allege that Telegram’s refusal to remove flagged content facilitated acts of sabotage, cyber fraud, and high-profile assassinations that resulted in numerous civilian casualties.
Background of Russian allegations
FSB documents show that Russian law enforcement has investigated Durov's actions since early 2024, citing over 153,000 crimes allegedly committed via Telegram since 2022.
These include the Crocus City Hall terror attack and the assassinations of prominent figures, including Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov. Russian state media claims Roskomnadzor sent over 150,000 content removal requests that were ignored by Telegram.
European legal pressures
The Russian indictment follows Durov's arrest in France, where authorities investigated him over 12 charges related to organized crime and platform moderation failures.
French authorities released Durov three days after his initial detention on a €5 million bail. Telegram has consistently rejected all allegations, maintaining that it complies with international law and operates within European regulatory standards.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
