Russia has escalated its long‑running confrontation with Telegram by placing the platform’s founder, Pavel Durov, on an international wanted list over allegations of facilitating terrorist activity. The move was announced by Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), which claims Telegram failed to remove channels, groups and bots allegedly used by hostile organisations — including Ukrainian intelligence services and extremist networks — to coordinate attacks, sabotage operations and cyber fraud inside Russia.
The FSB stated that Durov is being investigated under Part 1.1 of Article 205.1 of Russia’s Criminal Code, a provision related to aiding terrorism. If convicted, the 41‑year‑old billionaire could face life imprisonment under Russian law. The charges deepen tensions between Moscow and Telegram, a platform the Kremlin has repeatedly criticised for refusing to grant access to encrypted communications.
Russian authorities allege that Telegram’s moderation failures allowed hostile groups to operate freely, using the app’s anonymity features to plan strikes and disseminate operational instructions. The FSB claims these activities contributed to attacks on Russian soil, though it has not publicly provided detailed evidence.
In response to the investigation, the FSB’s Los Angeles Field Office equivalent within Russia released Durov’s photograph and personal details to aid the manhunt, urging international partners to cooperate. The move is largely symbolic, as Durov lives abroad and Russia’s request is unlikely to be honoured by Western governments.
The case comes amid broader geopolitical tensions, with Russia accusing Western‑aligned tech platforms of undermining national security. Telegram, meanwhile, has long positioned itself as a privacy‑focused service resistant to government pressure.