Overview
- The Federal Security Service said Wednesday it charged Pavel Durov under Article 205.1 of Russia’s criminal code for facilitating terrorist activity and announced an international wanted notice for him.
- Russian authorities allege a Telegram chatbot called Daivinchik/Leo was used by operatives posing as young women to recruit Russians for sabotage and attacks, and say 46 people linked to the service were detained since July 2025.
- Telegram and Durov have denied wrongdoing, and Telegram’s official account posted a photo of Durov making an obscene gesture after the FSB announcement.
- It is unclear what form Moscow’s ‘international’ notice takes or whether Interpol or foreign governments will accept it, and Durov holds French and Emirati passports and is believed to be outside Russia.
- The charge marks an escalation in Moscow’s long-running campaign to curb Telegram’s influence as regulators throttle the app and promote a state-backed messenger called MAX, while separate French investigations into Telegram’s moderation continue.