Russia charges Telegram founder Pavel Durov with aiding terrorism, places him on wanted list

Published Jul 29, 07:00 AM UTC

Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) announced on July 29, 2026, that Telegram founder Pavel Durov has been charged with aiding terrorism and placed on an international wanted list. The FSB accused Telegram's administration of failing to remove channels, chats, and bots allegedly used by Ukrainian intelligence and terrorist organizations to coordinate sabotage, terrorism, and cyber fraud in Russia. This action follows earlier restrictions on Telegram in Russia and a criminal investigation against Durov, who has accused Russian authorities of fabricating pretexts to suppress privacy and free speech. The charges mark a significant escalation in tensions between the Russian government and the popular messaging platform.