Pavel Durov added to Russia’s international wanted list over alleged terrorism aid

Russian authorities have placed Telegram founder Pavel Durov on an international wanted list, accusing him of aiding terrorist activities linked to the war in Ukraine. The Federal Security Service (FSB) alleges that Telegram was used by Ukrainian intelligence and extremist groups to coordinate sabotage, cyber‑fraud and attacks on Russian territory, and that the platform failed to remove the relevant channels.

If a Russian court finds Durov guilty, he could face up to life imprisonment under Russian law. Durov, who lives in Dubai and holds Russian, French, Emirati and St. Kitts & Nevis citizenships, has previously faced legal scrutiny in France earlier this year for insufficient moderation on Telegram. The messaging app, with more than a billion users, remains a key communication tool for both sides of the conflict.