Russia has launched a criminal investigation into Telegram
founder Pavel Durov for allegedly “abetting terrorist activities”, sharpening
its confrontation with the popular messaging app and its billionaire creator.
According to state-linked media, there are fresh restrictions on
Telegram’s services in Russia and an official push to move users to a
state-backed alternative.
Russia Opens Terror Case Against Durov
Two newspapers with close ties to the Kremlin, Rossiiskaya
Gazeta and Komsomolskaya Pravda, reported that Russia’s FSB security service is
investigating Durov in connection with terrorism-related offences. The
articles, citing FSB materials, allege that Telegram has become a tool for
western and Ukrainian intelligence services.
According to these reports, Russian authorities claim that
Telegram was used in 13 alleged Ukrainian attempts to assassinate senior
Russian military officers. They also link the app to tens of thousands of other
incidents since the start of the full-scale war in Ukraine, including bombings,
arson attacks on military recruitment centers and murders.
The reports further accuse Telegram of cooperating with
western government requests while ignoring Russian demands and say Ukraine
allegedly used Telegram data for attacks on Russia.
Related: Telegram’s Global Ambitions Hit a Wall as $500 Million in Bonds Freeze in Russia
The investigation comes as Russia tightens controls on
internet platforms. Authorities have restricted some Telegram functions, citing
the company’s refusal to store user data on Russian territory and to remove
content on demand. Regulators have also limited voice and video calls on
Telegram and introduced measures that slow its traffic.
At the same time, Moscow is promoting Max, a state-run
messaging app presented as a domestic alternative. Officials appear to be
steering users toward Max as they increase pressure on Telegram, which has more
than 105 million monthly users in Russia, according to the Financial Times.
Probe in France deepens pressure on Durov
French authorities placed Pavel Durov under formal investigation in 2024 after arresting him on suspicion that Telegram
failed to prevent and assist in tackling serious criminal activity on the
platform, including drug trafficking, fraud and other organised crime offences.
Judges indicted him on multiple counts such as complicity in
managing an online platform that enables illicit transactions and refusal to
cooperate with lawful interception requests, then released him under judicial
supervision with conditions that included a 5 million euro bond, twice-weekly
reporting to police and a ban on leaving France.
The case did not close but his restrictions gradually eased:
in 2025 an investigating judge allowed him to leave France temporarily, and by
November 2025 authorities lifted his travel ban entirely and removed the
obligation to report regularly to police.
Besides that, regulated forex brokers in Russia stopped providing customer support through Telegram after a new federal law last year. The laws banned financial institutions and government bodies from using foreign messaging platforms for communication.
This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.
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