Russia's FSB opens criminal case against Telegram founder Durov over terrorism allegations

Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) has issued an international arrest warrant for Pavel Durov, founder of the messaging platform Telegram, accusing him of refusing to remove accounts linked to terrorism. The FSB said the platform's management failed to delete channels, chats and automated accounts that Ukrainian intelligence services used to coordinate sabotage, terrorist acts, mass killings and cyber fraud inside Russia. According to the FSB, the activities caused multiple civilian deaths, including women and children, and billions of dollars in material damage. The security service also said Telegram's "Davaınçık" dating service had been used by Ukrainian intelligence to recruit Russian citizens for sabotage and terrorism, and that Russian security forces had detained 46 young Russians directed through the service since July 2025. The FSB announced that a criminal case had been opened against Durov under the article of the Russian Criminal Code covering assistance to terrorist activity, and that he would be added to the international wanted list. No further details on the case were immediately available.