Russia has launched an international search for Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov, accusing him of allowing the messaging platform to be used for activities allegedly linked to terrorism.
The country’s Federal Security Service (FSB) announced on Wednesday that it had issued a wanted notice for the Russian-born tech entrepreneur over claims that Telegram was used by Ukraine’s security services to recruit individuals for sabotage operations inside Russia.
“An international wanted notice has been issued for the head of the Telegram administration, P. Durov,” the FSB said in a statement, without providing details on the type of warrant issued or whether it would be recognised by foreign authorities.
Durov, 41, who holds French and United Arab Emirates citizenship, has lived outside Russia for years and has maintained a tense relationship with Moscow over control of online platforms and user privacy.
The Telegram founder has repeatedly resisted government pressure to provide access to users’ private data, making the platform one of Russia’s most popular communication tools despite previous attempts by authorities to restrict its use.
The FSB accused Telegram of failing to remove “prohibited information” and alleged that the platform had become a channel for Ukrainian intelligence agencies seeking to recruit Russians for acts of sabotage.
Russia and Ukraine have both accused each other of using social media platforms to influence public opinion and recruit supporters during their ongoing war.
Durov, who was born in Saint Petersburg, previously founded VKontakte, a social networking site often described as Russia’s version of Facebook. He left the company in the mid-2010s after increasing pressure from Russian authorities and later created Telegram, which grew into a global messaging service.
Telegram has become especially influential in Russia, where millions of users rely on it for news, communication and political discussions. Moscow’s previous efforts to block the platform failed after Telegram found ways to bypass restrictions.
Durov has also faced legal challenges in France over allegations involving illegal content shared through Telegram, though he has defended the platform’s commitment to privacy and free expression.
The Telegram chief has not publicly responded to the latest accusations from Russian authorities.
Meanwhile, Russia’s state-controlled social network VK has been promoting a government-backed messaging service, Max, encouraging users to move away from Telegram and WhatsApp. Durov has criticised the service, describing it as a tool designed for state surveillance and censorship.
