Gambiaj.com – (MOSCOW, Russia) – Telegram founder Pavel Durov has been placed on Russia’s official register of individuals accused of involvement in “extremist activities” or “terrorism,” marking a significant escalation in Moscow’s pressure on the billionaire messaging entrepreneur.
The 41-year-old Durov was added to the list maintained by Russia’s financial monitoring authorities on Thursday, according to AFP, a day after Russian authorities announced an international search procedure against him over alleged “complicity in terrorism.”
Moscow accuses Telegram of aiding Ukrainian recruitment
Russian authorities accuse Telegram of being used by Ukrainian security services to recruit people for activities against Russia’s security.
The allegations come as Moscow has intensified restrictions on digital communications, including access to Telegram and the Western-owned messaging platform WhatsApp. Russian authorities have accused both platforms of being exploited by Ukrainian intelligence services.
Telegram remains one of Russia’s most widely used messaging applications despite the restrictions. The platform is used not only by ordinary citizens but also by Russian state institutions, including the Kremlin, government ministries and law enforcement agencies.
The move against Durov therefore places the Russian authorities in a complicated position, given the continued reliance of parts of the Russian state apparatus on the very platform whose founder is now facing terrorism-related allegations.
Durov already facing French criminal proceedings.
Durov has also been the subject of criminal proceedings in France since 2024, where prosecutors have accused him of failing to take sufficient action against the circulation of criminal content on Telegram.
His confrontation with French authorities began dramatically in August 2024, when he was arrested after arriving by private jet in France. He was subsequently placed under formal investigation over a series of alleged offences linked to organised crime.
Durov, who was born in Russia and became a French citizen in 2021, also holds an Emirati passport and is based in Dubai.
The Russian-born entrepreneur has long portrayed himself as a staunch defender of internet privacy and personal freedoms. He co-founded Telegram in 2013 and has resisted calls for extensive moderation of content on the platform.
From Russian crackdown to international controversy
Telegram’s relationship with the Russian authorities has been contentious for years. Moscow attempted to block the messaging service in 2018 after Durov refused to provide authorities with encryption keys that could have enabled access to users’ communications.
The attempted ban was eventually abandoned, while Telegram continued to expand its influence in Russia and internationally.
The latest action against Durov comes amid a broader tightening of Russia’s digital environment following Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The Russian government has imposed increasingly stringent controls on online platforms and communications, citing national security concerns.
For Durov, the Russian designation adds another layer to an increasingly complex legal battle spanning multiple jurisdictions. While France has focused on allegations concerning criminal activity and moderation on Telegram, Moscow is now linking him and his platform to alleged terrorist activity and Ukrainian recruitment operations.
The designation could further complicate Durov’s international movements and deepen scrutiny of Telegram, which has become a major communications platform in both wartime Russia and Ukraine.
Leave a Reply