Telegram founder Pavel Durov has reportedly been placed on an international wanted list by Russian authorities, escalating a criminal case in which he is accused of facilitating terrorist activity through the messaging platform.
Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) said Durov has been formally charged and that an international arrest warrant has been issued, according to Russian news agency Interfax.
FSB Accuses Telegram of Facilitating Terrorist Activity
Russian authorities allege that Telegram failed to remove channels, group chats and automated bots that were allegedly being used by Ukrainian intelligence services, terrorist organisations and extremist groups.
According to the FSB, these Telegram services were used for activities including coordinating attacks, recruiting individuals and conducting cyber fraud.
The allegations represent a significant escalation in Russia’s long-running dispute with Telegram over content moderation, platform access and government oversight.
Durov Previously Accused Russia of Pressuring Telegram
Reports that Russian authorities had opened a criminal case against Durov first emerged in February 2026.
Durov subsequently acknowledged the investigation in a post on X, arguing that the case was being used as a mechanism to pressure Telegram.
He accused Russian authorities of repeatedly creating new reasons to restrict access to the messaging service and said the government’s actions threatened privacy and freedom of expression for Russian users.
Separate French Investigation Remains Open
Durov is also dealing with a separate criminal investigation in France concerning allegations of illegal activity conducted through Telegram.
The French case remains ongoing, although authorities earlier this year removed travel restrictions that had previously limited Durov’s ability to leave the country.
The French investigation is separate from the latest allegations made by Russian authorities.
Telegram Faces Growing Regulatory Pressure
The developments place renewed scrutiny on Telegram’s approach to content moderation and its responsibilities regarding potentially illegal activity conducted through the platform.
Telegram has historically positioned itself as a privacy-focused communication service while resisting government demands that it believes could undermine user privacy and freedom of expression.
Russia’s decision to pursue Durov internationally could now intensify the broader debate over how messaging platforms should balance privacy, government demands, content moderation and public security.
