Summary
- Pavel Durov has been charged with aiding terrorism under Article 205.1 by Russia's FSB, and is now on an international wanted list.
- The FSB claims Telegram has not removed content facilitating sabotage and attacks within Russia.
- Following the charges, Durov accused the Russian government of seeking to create "new pretexts" to limit Telegram's accessibility.
Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, has been officially charged by Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) with supporting terrorist activities and has been placed on an international wanted list. The FSB announced this on Wednesday, stating that he is charged under Part 1.1 of Article 205.1 of the Russian criminal code, as reported by the local news outlet Interfax.
The authorities allege that Telegram has failed to eliminate channels, chats, and bots that are reportedly utilized by Ukrainian special services and various extremist groups to orchestrate acts of sabotage, mass killings, and cyber fraud within Russia. The FSB claims these activities have resulted in fatalities, including among women and children, as well as causing extensive financial damages.
Shortly after the announcement, the FSB reported the detention of 46 individuals who were allegedly recruited by Ukraine through a Telegram dating bot.
In response to the charges, Telegram's X account shared an image of Durov making a provocative gesture, which The Moscow Times interpreted as a reaction to the warrant. Durov has not publicly commented on the latest allegations but previously described the case initiated in February as an attempt by authorities to "fabricate new pretexts" to limit access to Telegram, characterizing it as a "sad spectacle of a state afraid of its own people."
— Telegram Messenger (@telegram) July 29, 2026
Implications of the Wanted Listing
Being placed on Russia's wanted list is a domestic designation and does not obligate other nations to respond. Durov has resided outside of Russia since 2014 and currently lives in Dubai. Reports from AFP indicate that he holds multiple passports, including Russian, French, Emirati, and Saint Kitts and Nevis. Any notice from Interpol would necessitate a distinct request and subsequent review by the organization.
Durov is also facing legal issues in France, where he was indicted in 2024 for charges related to drug trafficking, organized fraud, and the distribution of child sexual abuse material via Telegram, and was released under judicial supervision on a bond of €5 million ($5.5 million). Both cases share a common accusation that Telegram has not removed problematic content or cooperated with law enforcement, brought forth by governments on opposing sides of the Ukraine conflict. Durov has denied any wrongdoing and labeled the French allegations as "legally and logically absurd."
Since August of last year, Russia has been implementing restrictions on Telegram, having imposed fines totaling 100 million rubles ($1.3 million) this year primarily for not deleting prohibited content, according to Interfax. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov mentioned on Monday that discussions regarding the restoration of the service are ongoing, although Telegram's representatives have been "not very active." Meanwhile, the state has been promoting its own messaging platform, MAX, which activists have criticized as a “digital trap.”
Telegram and GRAM Developments
This month, Telegram announced plans to introduce a native, non-custodial GRAM wallet to its user base exceeding one billion, a move that Durov touted as the largest rollout in history. The token, which was renamed from Toncoin in June following an 81% community vote, saw a price increase of 7% after the announcement.
As of Wednesday, GRAM was trading at $1.42, down by 2.5%, according to CoinGecko data.