The Federal Security Service of Russia has taken legal action against Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, accusing him of facilitating terrorism. The agency claims that Telegram has not adequately removed channels and bots that allegedly promote terrorist activities, leading to significant casualties and economic damage within Russia. As a result, Durov has been placed on an international wanted list by the Russian authorities.
What specific allegations are being made against Telegram? The FSB asserts that the platform has permitted numerous channels and chats linked to Ukrainian intelligence services and extremist groups. These channels purportedly enable the coordination of acts of sabotage and terrorism, alongside cyber fraud that has reportedly inflicted billions of rubles in losses on the Russian economy.
In a related development, the Investigative Committee of Russia has initiated criminal inquiries regarding sabotage and terrorism allegedly executed by Russian nationals. They suggest that Ukrainian intelligence utilized Telegram’s Daivinchik/Leo dating chatbot as a medium for recruitment, which allegedly includes the targeting of minors. Authorities apprehended 19 teenagers from several cities, claiming they were recruited through this chatbot to execute crimes such as arson against vehicles and public buildings. Investigators aim to identify the intelligence officials behind this effort and are taking measures to block the chatbot.
What has been the response of Russian authorities regarding Telegram’s operations? Russia's regulations on Telegram have tightened since 2025, with ongoing restrictions due to non-compliance with local laws. The Federal Service for Supervision of Communications has indicated that these restrictions will remain until Telegram adheres to Russian legal demands. Since the beginning of the year, Telegram has faced fines exceeding 100 million rubles for failing to eliminate forbidden content. While discussions about possibly lifting restrictions are ongoing, government officials have noted that Telegram’s cooperation has been minimal.