Follow Us on Google
Russian authorities have issued an international wanted notice for Telegram founder and Chief Executive Officer, Pavel Durov, accusing him of complicity in terrorism by allegedly allowing the messaging platform to be used by Ukrainian security services to recruit operatives for sabotage activities inside Russia.
The announcement, made on Wednesday by Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), marks the latest escalation in Moscow’s long-running dispute with the Russian-born technology entrepreneur, who has spent years living outside Russia and now holds French and United Arab Emirates citizenship.
According to the FSB, Durov failed to remove what it described as prohibited content from Telegram, alleging that the platform had become a channel through which Ukrainian intelligence agencies recruited Russian citizens to carry out acts of sabotage during the ongoing conflict between the two countries.
“An international wanted notice has been issued for the head of the Telegram administration, P. Durov,” the agency said in a statement.
Russian authorities, however, did not specify the legal mechanism behind the international search request or whether foreign governments and international law enforcement agencies would recognise or act on the notice.
The move adds to years of confrontation between Durov and the Kremlin over internet regulation, user privacy and encrypted communications. Telegram remains one of Russia’s most widely used messaging platforms despite repeated attempts by the authorities to restrict its operations and compel the company to hand over user data or support state-backed communication platforms.
Since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war, both Moscow and Kyiv have repeatedly accused each other of using digital platforms and social media to recruit supporters, gather intelligence and coordinate activities linked to the conflict.
Durov, 41, is no stranger to disputes with government authorities. Born in Saint Petersburg, he founded VKontakte, popularly known as VK, Russia’s largest social networking platform, before leaving the company following increasing pressure from the Russian government over control of user data and online content.
After departing VK, Durov established Telegram, which has since grown into one of the world’s largest encrypted messaging platforms with hundreds of millions of users across multiple countries. Despite sustained efforts by Russian regulators to block the application, Telegram remained widely accessible and continued to gain popularity.
The Telegram founder is also facing separate legal challenges in France over allegations linked to the spread of illegal content on the messaging platform, although he has consistently maintained that Telegram is committed to protecting user privacy while complying with applicable laws.
Meanwhile, Russia has intensified efforts to encourage citizens to adopt Max, a government-backed messaging application developed under the control of state-owned VK. Authorities have promoted the platform as an alternative to Telegram and WhatsApp, while Durov has publicly criticised Max, describing it as “a state-controlled app built for surveillance and political censorship.”
Durov had not publicly responded to the latest allegations or the international arrest request as of the time of filing this report. The development is expected to further deepen tensions between Moscow and the Telegram founder, whose platform continues to play a significant role in global digital communication despite increasing regulatory scrutiny in several jurisdictions.
