Russia charges Telegram founder Pavel Durov with aiding terrorism, seeks his arrest - CBS News

What the report says

CBS News reported that Russia’s Federal Security Service said Wednesday it has charged Telegram founder and owner Pavel Durov with aiding terrorism and placed him on an international wanted list. The move comes as Russian authorities continue tightening restrictions on Telegram, a widely used messaging app in Russia, amid a broader state campaign to control online communications that has grown since the 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

According to CBS, the FSB alleged that Telegram’s operators failed to take down channels, chats and bots it says were used by Ukrainian intelligence services and extremist or terrorist organizations to organize sabotage, killings and cyberfraud inside Russia. The agency also claimed a Telegram dating chatbot was used to recruit Russians, saying 46 users aged 12 to 22 had been detained since July 2025 in connection with attacks on police, arson and other acts. CBS noted there was no immediate substantive response from Durov or Telegram, though Telegram’s official X account posted an image of Durov making an obscene gesture after the announcement.

Durov, who was born in Russia and later moved abroad, has accused Russian authorities of using fabricated grounds to limit Telegram and undermine privacy and free expression. CBS reported that he lives in Dubai and holds citizenship in France and the United Arab Emirates. If convicted in Russia, he could face a life sentence.

The case underscores Telegram’s position in a widening conflict over encrypted and semi-private communications. Russia has banned or restricted several major platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, X, Signal, Viber, WhatsApp and Telegram, while promoting a domestic messaging app called MAX. The Associated Press also reported that Russia charged Durov and put him on a wanted list.