Russia Launches Terrorism Probe Against Telegram’s Pavel Durov

By 𝔸bdulrazak Tomiwa

Russia has initiated a criminal investigation into Telegram founder, Pavel Durov, accusing him of abetting terrorist activities. State media reports claim the messaging app has become a primary tool for NATO and Ukrainian intelligence services to coordinate attacks within Russian borders.

The Russian FSB security service alleges that Telegram was used to plan 13 assassination attempts on senior military officers. Additionally, the platform is being blamed for orchestrating bombings, arson attacks on recruitment centers, and various murders since the conflict with Ukraine began.

Authorities further accused Telegram of complying with Western government directives while ignoring Russian requests for cooperation.

In response to these tensions, Russia had already limited video and voice call functionalities on the app earlier in 2025.

In a personal statement, Durov dismissed the probe as a “sad spectacle of a state afraid of its own people.” He argued that, “Russia has opened a criminal case against me for ‘aiding terrorism,’” adding that the move is a pretext to suppress privacy and free speech.

Durov believes Moscow is targeting Telegram to force citizens toward “Max,” a state-controlled app designed for political censorship and surveillance.

The 41-year-old billionaire has lived outside of Russia since 2014, after being forced to sell his stake in his previous social media venture, VK.

This Russian probe coincides with an ongoing investigation in France, where Durov faces separate allegations regarding drug trafficking and illicit transactions. Although his French travel ban was lifted in late 2025, he remains under judicial supervision while the global legal pressure on tech moguls intensifies.