Law & Justice
Pavel Durov says Russia labelled him terrorist over Telegram
Telegram founder Pavel Durov said on July 30 that Russia labelled him a “terrorist” because he refused Moscow’s demands for “mass surveillance and censorship” on Telegram.
His statement followed his addition to the online register of “terrorists and extremists” maintained by Rosfinmonitoring, Russia’s financial watchdog. People on the register are essentially barred from conducting transactions inside Russia.
Russia’s Federal Security Service said this week it had launched international search proceedings for Durov, 41. It accused Telegram of failing to remove Leo Match Bot, a dating bot banned in Russia that Moscow says Ukrainian special services used to draw young Russians into “terrorist and sabotage activities.”
The FSB has said 46 Russian citizens aged 12 to 22 who used the bot had been arrested since July 2025 for assaulting law-enforcement officers and carrying out sabotage against energy and transport infrastructure.
Durov was born in Saint Petersburg and has lived outside Russia for years. He founded VKontakte before creating Telegram after being pushed out of the company amid pressure from Russian authorities.
Update
Pavel Durov said Russia labelled him a terrorist because he refused demands for mass surveillance and censorship on Telegram.
Durov made the statement on Telegram.
Source note: AFP news report published on 30 July 2026 at 17:22:02 UTC.
Update
Russia added Pavel Durov to its online register of “terrorists and extremists”.
The register is maintained by Russia's Rosfinmonitoring financial watchdog.
People on the list are essentially barred from conducting transactions inside Russia.
Source note: AFP news report published on 30 July 2026 at 12:27:59 UTC.
Update
The FSB said 46 Russian citizens aged 12 to 22 who used Leo Match Bot have been arrested since July 2025 over attacks on police and sabotage against energy and transport infrastructure.
The FSB alleged Ukrainian special services used the bot while posing as young women to pressure Russians into attacks and sabotage.
Telegram told AFP that Pavel Durov did not wish to comment at this stage.
Source note: AFP news report published on 29 July 2026 at 19:23:41 UTC.
Update
Lawyers for Pavel Durov declined to comment when contacted by AFP.
The FSB alleged Telegram had been used as a recruitment platform for Ukrainian security services seeking to coerce Russians to commit sabotage acts.
Durov was arrested by French police in 2024 on charges related to the distribution of illegal content, later released on bail and left France after authorities lifted a travel ban.
Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of using social media to recruit people to support them in the war.
Source note: AFP news report published on 29 July 2026 at 10:38:20 UTC.
Update
It is unclear what kind of wanted notice Russia issued and whether other countries or law-enforcement bodies would accept or comply with it.
Durov did not immediately comment on the FSB allegations.
The VKontakte social network, now controlled by the state and known as VK, has been pushing the government-backed Max messenger this year.
Durov has criticised Max as a state-controlled app built for surveillance and political censorship.
Source note: AFP news report published on 29 July 2026 at 08:47:02 UTC.
Update
The FSB alleged Telegram had been used as a recruitment platform for Ukrainian security services seeking to coerce Russians into sabotage.
The FSB alleged Durov had not removed prohibited information from Telegram.
The item adds background on Durov's clashes with Russian authorities, his departure from VKontakte, and legal issues in France over allegations linked to illegal content on Telegram.
Source note: AFP news report published on 29 July 2026 at 06:48:55 UTC.
Update
The wanted notice concerns Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov.
The FSB described the accusation as complicity in terrorism.
Russian news agencies cited the FSB statement.
The FSB statement said Durov was currently in France.
Durov was born in Russia and holds French and Emirati passports.
Source note: AFP news report published on 29 July 2026 at 06:15:45 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
Russia's official response to Durov's explanation is not stated.
It remains unclear whether other countries or law-enforcement bodies will comply with the FSB's international search proceedings.
Source
AFP news report published on .