The FSB has announced that Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, is facing international charges for failing to remove channels, chats, and bots allegedly used by Ukrainian intelligence services to plan and coordinate terrorist activities on Russian territory.
In addition, the FSB has initiated procedures to place Durov on an international wanted list. The Russian Investigative Committee has also expressed intentions to block a dating bot called “DaiVinchik” on Telegram, asserting that it has been used to recruit teenagers into terrorism. Reportedly, 46 Russian nationals aged 12 to 22 have been drawn into terrorism through this dating chat bot.
According to sources from TASS in law enforcement, Telegram’s fines for legal violations in Russia have accumulated to nearly 38 million rubles, with 27 enforcement proceedings currently open against the messaging service.
On July 27, Dmitry Peskov, spokesperson for the illegitimate president of Russia, stated that there have been communications with Telegram regarding the potential restoration of its operations in Russia, although the representatives of the messenger are reportedly not very proactive.
Context
- Pavel Durov claimed back in February 2026 that a criminal case had been initiated against him in Russia for allegedly promoting terrorism. “Daily, the authorities invent new reasons to restrict access to Telegram for Russians, aiming to suppress the right to privacy and freedom of speech. It is a sad spectacle of a state that fears its own people,” he remarked.
- Restrictions on Telegram’s operations in Russia began in 2025. Currently, the messenger is inaccessible without a VPN or other means to bypass blocks.
