MOSCOW: Russia has launched an international search for Telegram founder Pavel Durov, accusing him of allowing the messaging platform to be used for activities linked to terrorism, in the latest move by Moscow against one of the world’s most widely used communication services.
The Federal Security Service (FSB) said on Wednesday that it had issued a wanted notice for Durov, who is also Telegram’s chief executive, alleging that the platform was used by Ukrainian security services to recruit individuals for attacks and sabotage operations.
It remains unclear what type of international notice Russia has issued or whether foreign governments and law enforcement agencies would recognise or act on the request.
The FSB said Telegram had failed to remove a dating bot called Leo Match Bot, which Russian authorities claim was used by Ukrainian special services to target young Russians and encourage them to carry out attacks against law enforcement officers and infrastructure.
According to the FSB, 46 Russian citizens between the ages of 12 and 22 who used the banned bot have been arrested since July 2025 over alleged involvement in attacks on police officers and sabotage against energy and transport facilities.
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The allegations have not been independently verified.
Durov, 41, a Russian-born entrepreneur who holds French and United Arab Emirates passports, has lived outside Russia for years and has repeatedly faced pressure from Russian authorities over control of online platforms and access to user data.
Telegram has become one of Russia’s most important communication platforms, with millions of users relying on the service. Moscow has previously attempted to restrict access to Telegram and pressured the company to cooperate with authorities or encourage users to switch to state-backed alternatives.
Durov founded Telegram after leaving VKontakte, Russia’s largest social media network, which he created in 2006. He stepped away from VKontakte in the mid-2010s following growing pressure from Russian authorities over control of the platform.
Telegram later became one of the few major platforms able to resist Moscow’s efforts to block its operations inside Russia.
Social media platforms have become a key battleground during the Russia-Ukraine war, with both sides accusing each other of using online networks for recruitment, information campaigns and political influence.
The latest action against Durov comes as Russia continues promoting domestic digital platforms. VKontakte, now under state control, has encouraged users to move from Telegram and WhatsApp to the government-supported messenger Max.
Durov was previously arrested by French authorities in 2024 over allegations related to illegal content distribution. He was later released on bail and allowed to leave France after a travel restriction was lifted.
The case against Durov highlights growing tensions between governments and global technology companies over digital security, privacy and control of online platforms. The outcome of Russia’s international search request will depend on whether other countries recognise or enforce the notice.
