Russia Places Telegram Founder Pavel Durov on International Wanted List

Russian authorities have placed Telegram founder Pavel Durov on an international wanted list over allegations of facilitating terrorist activity. The move comes after a criminal case was opened against Durov earlier this year, which he claimed was politically motivated.

The FSB alleges that Telegram allowed accounts linked to Ukrainian intelligence services, terrorist organizations, and extremist groups to remain active despite their alleged use in planning attacks, recruiting members, and conducting online fraud. According to Interfax, the FSB charges Durov with facilitating terrorist activity and has issued an international arrest warrant.

This is not the first legal battle for Durov, who is already facing a separate criminal investigation in France over Telegram's content moderation practices. The French case led to Durov's detention at Le Bourget Airport near Paris in August 2024, which briefly rattled crypto markets.