Full Breakdown
Russia Charges Telegram Founder Pavel Durov with Facilitating Terrorism
7/29/2026, 7:51:12 PM
Background to the Kremlin’s Internet Crackdown
Since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russian authorities have tightened control over the internet. Under President Vladimir Putin, restrictive laws have been adopted, foreign platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and X have been banned, and messaging services like Signal and Viber have been blocked. The government promotes a domestically developed messenger called MAX, which shares user data with authorities and lacks end-to-end encryption.
Telegram, founded in 2013 by Pavel Durov, remains popular in Russia despite repeated attempts to restrict it. Earlier attempts to block Telegram between 2018 and 2020 failed, and many Russian users rely on VPNs to access the service.
FSB Accusations and Legal Action
On July 29 the Federal Security Service (FSB) announced that it had charged Durov, now 41, with “facilitating terrorist activities.”
The FSB alleged that a dating chatbot on Telegram, Daivinchik/Leo, was used by Ukrainian security services to recruit Russian youths (aged 12-22) for sabotage and terrorist acts. According to the statement, 46 such users have been detained across Russia since July 2025 for assaults on law-enforcement officers, arson and other offenses.
An international arrest warrant was issued for Durov. The FSB described the charge as part of an “ongoing criminal investigation.” No immediate comment was received from Durov or Telegram.
International and Domestic Reactions
French authorities continue a separate investigation into Durov for alleged failure to curb illicit activity on Telegram, including drug trafficking and the distribution of child sexual-abuse material. Durov was arrested in Paris in 2024, released after a brief detention, and returned to Dubai in March 2025.
Data & Statistics
- Telegram reports more than 1 billion global users; other sources cite around 950 million.
- In Russia, the app is estimated to have tens of millions of users, with Durov claiming 65 million daily users in the country.
- Since July 2025, 46 young Russians have been detained for activities tied to the alleged chatbot recruitment.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on Telegram’s user base: some cite “more than 1 billion,” others “around 950 million.” Financial penalties imposed on Telegram by Russian courts are reported as over 100 million rubles (? $1.26 million) and, in other outlets, as $1.26 million without ruble conversion.
The FSB’s statement does not detail the mechanism for the international warrant, and Interpol has not confirmed whether a Red Notice will be issued. The extent of Telegram’s compliance with Russian content-removal requests remains unclear.
Verbatim Quote
- “For now, this appears less like the final chapter for Telegram in Russia than another round in the ongoing battle over its control,” — Moscow-based analyst
These statements capture the perspective of Russian leadership and analysts on the broader struggle over Telegram’s role in Russia’s information environment.
