Key highlights:
- Russia has placed Telegram’s Pavel Durov on the international wanted list.
- The country alleges that Telegram has facilitated terrorist and extremist activities
- France is also investigating Durov over the platform’s use in drug trafficking and other illegal activities
Telegram CEO Pavel Durov is facing increased legal challenges in Russia, with the country now placing him on its international wanted list. The Federal Security Service (FSB) of Russia has reportedly accused Durov of facilitating terrorist activities through his messaging platform.
This represents the latest development within the prolonged legal battle between the Russian authorities and the Telegram CEO. While this legal battle began in 2017, when Durov refused to hand over his encryption keys and comply with the government’s policies, the dispute continues to this day with fresh developments.
Russia accuses Pavel Durov of facilitating terrorism
According to a Reuters report, the Federal Security Service (FSB) of Russia announced its decision to include Telegram CEO Pavel Durov in the country’s international wanted list. On Wednesday, the authority charged him with allowing Ukrainian-related terrorist activities to flourish on his social media platform.
The agency stated that Telegram failed to remove content connected to terrorist and extremist groups. The government added that the platform allowed material to remain online that was used to organize sabotage, terrorist attacks, mass killings, and cyber fraud operations within Russia. Pavel Durov allegedly failed to take necessary actions to prevent his platform from being used for these illegal activities.
As per the official statement, Durov failed to remove material “used by Ukrainian special services and by terrorist and extremist organisations to prepare and coordinate acts of sabotage and terrorism, mass killings, and cyber-fraud operations within the Russian Federation.”
Unveiling Russia’s legal dispute with Telegram
Notably, Russia’s issues with Telegram and its CEO Pavel Durov began in 2017. This is when the company refused to share users’ encryption keys under the country’s Yarovaya Law. In response to this non-compliance, Russia’s communication regulator, Roskomnadzor, tried to block the platform. But the ban largely failed as users continued to access the application.
Although the country lifted its ban in 2020, things reportedly worsened when Russia launched a state-backed messaging app, MAX, in 2025. The government claimed that Telegram was spreading banned content, posing security risks. The country then restricted some of the services of the platform.
Pavel Durov us also facing legal scrutiny in France
In addition to Russia, Pavel Durov is also facing legal scrutiny in France. The French authorities are investigating the Telegram founder over claims that the platform did not make any efforts to curb criminal activity on it. The government also accuses him of not cooperating with the country’s laws.
The authorities’ allegations against Pavel Durov include facilitating fraud, drug trafficking, child sexual abuse, and other illegal content. The country is currently probing into these matters, analyzing whether the platform has responded appropriately to official requests.
However, Pavel Durov has already denied all these allegations. He asserted that Telegram continues to comply with applicable laws. According to him, the platform removes illegal content when government requests are received.
Source:: Telegram CEO Pavel Durov Added to Russia's International Wanted List