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Friday, July 31Friday, July 31
2 days · 2 summary articles
Russia designates Telegram CEO Pavel Durov as terrorist over Ukraine-linked recruitment claims
Russia charges Telegram founder Durov with aiding terrorism, adds him to wanted list
Russia has labeled Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of the Telegram messaging app, as a terrorist and extremist. The decision was made by Russia's Federal Financial Monitoring Service, Rosfinmonitoring, on July 30, 2026. The move comes after the Federal Security Service (FSB) accused Durov of aiding terrorist activities by allowing Telegram to be used by Ukrainian intelligence to recruit Russians for attacks within Russia.
Durov responded to the accusations by posting an image of himself raising a middle finger on Telegram's official account on X. He stated that Russia labeled him a terrorist because he refused to comply with demands for mass surveillance and censorship on Telegram. "The Russian authorities have clearly confused who can ban whom on the internet," Durov said.
According to the FSB, Telegram allowed a chatbot to be used by Ukrainian intelligence to recruit Russians for terrorist activities and sabotage. The FSB claimed that dozens of Russians were arrested for using the bot and were accused of attacking security forces and sabotaging energy and traffic infrastructure. The FSB also stated that the Ukrainians posed as young women to recruit the Russians.
Durov, who is 41 years old, has had previous run-ins with Russian authorities. He founded VKontakte, Russia's largest social network, in 2006 but sold his stake after pressure from authorities following anti-Kremlin protests in 2011-12. He later founded Telegram in 2013 with his brother Nikolai and left Russia in 2014, moving to Dubai.
Durov is known for his stance on free speech and privacy. In a 2024 interview with Tucker Carlson, he described Dubai as "the best place for a neutral platform like ours to be in if we want to make sure we can defend our users' privacy and freedom of speech." He is also known for his fitness regimen and healthy lifestyle.
The case against Durov marks an escalation in the Kremlin's efforts to control the internet and digital communications as Russia prepares for parliamentary elections in September. The move has drawn attention to the platform's role in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Telegram has also faced scrutiny from other countries. Australia's online regulator announced on Thursday that it was suing Telegram over allegations that the platform left videos of terrorist executions and mass shootings on its platform for weeks after they were reported.
Durov's response to the Russian accusations included a meme comparing his designation as a terrorist to Russia's interactions with the Taliban, who were removed from Russia's list of terrorists and extremists in April 2025.
In a statement on Telegram, Durov said, "Russia has labeled me as a 'terrorist' for refusing its demands for mass surveillance and censorship on Telegram. Russian officials have clearly confused who can ban whom on the internet."
The Russian authorities have not yet commented on whether it is illegal to pay for Telegram Premium in Russia following Durov's designation as a terrorist.
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3 further sources not geolocated
Putins attack mot techmiljardären Kreml har tidigare försvarat den ryskfödda teknikmiljardären, men har nu vänt.Pavel Durov anklagas för medhjälp till terrorism och har blivit internationellt efterlyst.Telegramgrundaren svarar själv med att ge Putin långfingret, enligt The Guardian.
expressen · about 6 hours ago
Telegram billionaire Pavel Durov charged with aiding terrorism
gdeltproject.org · about 7 hours ago
Telegrams Durov says labeled terrorist in Russia for refusing censorship demands Russia, on Thursday, added Durov, 41, to a blacklist of terrorists and extremists, a day after saying it was seeking his arrest over accusations he let his platform be used by Ukrainian intelligence.
le monde · about 7 hours ago
Россия объявила Павла Дурова террористом. Окей, а покупать Telegram Premium теперь опасно? . Нет, и даже сами власти это признают
meduza · about 8 hours ago
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orf.at · about 9 hours ago
Russia has labeled Telegram founder Pavel Durov a terrorist, but he wants to know why Moscow now calls the Taliban a respected partner
telegram_Meduza · about 9 hours ago
Is it illegal to pay for Telegram Premium in Russia now that Pavel Durov is on the terrorism list? Not yet.
telegram_Meduza · about 9 hours ago
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mastodon bot · about 9 hours ago
Le patron de Telegram dit quil est considéré comme "terroriste" en Russie pour avoir refusé la "surveillance" et la "censure" demandées par Moscou Le patron de Telegram, Pavel Durov, a expliqué jeudi quil a été placé sur une liste des autorités russes recensant les personnes désignées "terroristes". ...
la libre · about 9 hours ago
Telegram-oprichter noemt Russische aanklachten gevolg van weigeren censuur Telegram-oprichter Pavel Durov zegt dat het Kremlin hem als terrorist heeft aangemerkt omdat hij weigerde mee te werken aan massasurveillance en censuur. Eerder deze week werd hij in Rusland aangeklaagd.
nu.nl · about 9 hours ago
Russie: le patron de Telegram placé sur la liste des personnalités désignées comme «terroristes» Après avoir déclenché mercredi 29 juillet une procédure de recherche internationale à lencontre du patron de Telegram pour « complicité de terrorisme », la Russie a classé ce jeudi Pavel Durov sur sa liste des personnalités désignées comme « terroristes » ou « extrémistes ».
rfi.fr · about 10 hours ago
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taz.de · about 10 hours ago
Moscow IVF clinic adds terrorist and extremist designation notice to Telegram founder Pavel Durovs sperm donor profile
telegram_Meduza · about 10 hours ago
Is it safe in Russia to buy Telegram Stars or Premium after Durovs terrorist designation? Heres what lawyers say.
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