Russia charges Telegram founder Pavel Durov with terrorism facilitation

Moscow’s Federal Security Service (FSB) has accused the Telegram messaging platform, founded by Russian entrepreneur Pavel Durov, of neglecting to delete user accounts and public channels that it says are being used by Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) to recruit operatives. In a statement released on Tuesday, the FSB alleged that the app hosts a network of profiles and discussion groups that facilitate the enlistment of Russian citizens for intelligence‑gathering and sabotage activities on behalf of Kyiv, and that Telegram has not complied with requests to remove the alleged recruitment material.

Telegram has not publicly responded to the FSB’s claims, and Durov has previously emphasized the company’s policy of refusing to share user data with governments. The dispute underscores the broader tension between Russian authorities and the messaging service, which has been blocked or restricted in the country at various times. The FSB indicated that it will pursue further legal action if the platform does not take corrective steps, while analysts note that the case may affect the app’s accessibility for Russian users.