Russia Charges Telegram Founder Pavel Durov With ‘Aiding Terrorism’, Puts Him on Wanted List

Russia Charges Telegram Founder Pavel Durov With ‘Aiding Terrorism’, Puts Him on Wanted List

Moscow, July 29, 2026 [VoM News]: The authorities in Russia have placed the Telegram founder Pavel Durov on an international wanted list, and imposes the charges of aiding terrorism, reveals the Assosiated Press report.

As per details available with VoM News, Federal Security Service of Russia (FSB) has taken action against Telegram founder Pavel Durov with aiding terrorism charges and has placed him on an international wanted list.

The Russia authorities accuses the messaging platform – Telegram of failing to remove channels allegedly used by Ukrainian intelligence agencies and extremist groups.

Also Read: Telegram Fined by Russian Court: TASS

In a statement, the FSB claimed Telegram had not removed “numerous channels, chats and bots” that were allegedly being used to coordinate acts of sabotage, terrorism, cyber fraud and other criminal activities inside Russia.

The Ukrainian intelligence services as well as organisations designated by Russia as terrorist or extremist groups are using these these online networks actively, the Russian agency said.

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As the renewed fighting between the both the nation continues, the Russian authorities have imposed the tight restrictions on Telegram.

Earlier this year, Durov said Russian authorities had opened a criminal investigation against him.

He labelled the allegations as fabricated to justify restricting access to Telegram, and added the move was aimed at undermining users’ rights to privacy and freedom of expression.

So far, Telegram has made no remarks/comment regarding this recent action, but it seems, it would escalate the tensions between the messaging platform and the Russian authorities.