Russia charges Telegram founder Pavel Durov with terrorism, issues arrest warrant

Russia's FSB charged Telegram founder Pavel Durov with facilitating terrorist activities and issued an international arrest warrant, citing Telegram's failure to remove material used by Ukrainian and extremist groups for sabotage and terrorism. Durov and Telegram have not commented.

Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) charged Telegram founder Pavel Durov with facilitating terrorist activities and issued an international arrest warrant on Wednesday, July 29, 2026. The FSB stated that the charges stem from Telegram's failure to remove material used by Ukrainian special services and terrorist and extremist organizations to coordinate acts of sabotage, terrorism, mass killings, and cyber-fraud within Russia. Durov and Telegram have not commented. Telegram, founded in 2013, claims over 1 billion users and is widely used on both sides of the Russia-Ukraine war. Russia has previously attempted to restrict Telegram, promoting its own MAX messenger service. Durov, born in Russia but now holding Emirati and French passports, also founded VKontakte before selling his stake in 2014 amid Russian pressure. Separately, French authorities are investigating Durov over allegations that Telegram failed to counter criminal activity on the platform; Durov denies wrongdoing.