Russian authorities have officially classified Pavel Durov, the founder of the messaging app Telegram, as a terrorist, adding his name to a blacklist of “terrorists and extremists” on Thursday. This decision came just a day after officials announced intentions to arrest him, accusing him of allowing Ukrainian intelligence services to utilize his platform, according to reports.
Durov, who has lived outside of Russia for several years and holds both French and United Arab Emirates passports, has frequently clashed with Russian authorities as Moscow has tightened its grip on internet regulations.
Telegram serves as one of the primary messaging platforms in Russia. Authorities have attempted multiple times to block access to the app and pressured Durov to hand over user data or to push Russians towards using a state-supported, unencrypted alternative.
This week, Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) initiated international procedures to apprehend Durov, but it remains unclear whether other countries or law enforcement agencies will comply with Moscow’s request.
On Thursday, Durov’s name appeared in the online registry of “terrorists and extremists,” maintained by Rosfinmonitoring, Russia’s financial oversight agency. Being on this list effectively prohibits individuals from conducting transactions within Russia.
Moscow often targets political adversaries with accusations of supporting “terrorism” or “extremism,” including those who have left the country.
FSB Accuses Durov of Allowing Ukrainian Services to Use Telegram
The FSB has accused Telegram of failing to remove a popular dating bot that it claims is exploited by Ukrainian intelligence services to lure young Russians into “terrorist and sabotage activities.”
Lawyers representing Pavel Durov, 41, declined to comment when contacted by AFP regarding the FSB’s allegations.
“Pavel Durov does not wish to comment at this time,” representatives from Telegram stated.
The CEO of Telegram, who has lived in both Dubai and France, has faced legal troubles in France as well. In 2024, he was arrested by French police over allegations related to distributing illegal content but was subsequently released on bail. He ultimately left the country after local authorities lifted his travel ban.
Creator of VKontakte and Telegram
Born in St. Petersburg, the hometown of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Durov is also the founder of VKontakte, a social media platform often referred to as “the Facebook of Russia.” After being compelled to resign from VKontakte due to conflicts with authorities seeking tighter control, he launched Telegram.
For years, Moscow has unsuccessfully attempted to block Telegram. Recently, it has pressured users to switch to a state-backed, unencrypted messaging service called Max, which Durov contends was “designed for surveillance and political censorship.”
