Russia announced on Wednesday that it has charged Telegram founder Pavel Durov with aiding terrorist activities, claiming that his widely used messaging platform is being exploited by Ukrainian intelligence agents to coordinate attacks within Russian territory.
In reply, Telegram’s official account on X shared a photo of the Russian-born billionaire giving an obscene middle-finger gesture.
The Federal Security Service (FSB) announced the charges, which represent the conclusion of an extensive investigation targeting Dubai-based Durov and Telegram.
Moscow has essentially restricted the service as part of a broader effort to block access to foreign technology platforms and strengthen its control over the internet.
Russians can now reach Telegram only by using a VPN to encrypt their traffic and hide their location. Nevertheless, government institutions, including the Kremlin and the defence ministry, still publish on the platform every day.
The app has been characterized as a “virtual battlefield” in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, where officials, soldiers, and prominent bloggers from both sides make use of it.
In official statements, the FSB and the state Investigative Committee reported that a Telegram chatbot named "Daivinchik/Leo" had been used by Ukrainian special services to recruit young Russians for sabotage and terrorist activities.
Daivinchik/Leo is a widely used dating chatbot in Russia, where Tinder is no longer accessible. According to the statement, Ukrainian intelligence agents posing as young women were allegedly using the service to approach and ensnare Russians, then pressuring them into carrying out criminal acts.
According to the FSB, 46 Russians between the ages of 12 and 22 have been detained over the past year after being recruited through this method to launch attacks on law enforcement personnel or to set fire to transportation, energy, communications, or financial infrastructure.
The FSB announced that Durov was being added to an international wanted list, but did not clarify which mechanism Russia would employ to carry this out.
Dubai, where Durov resides, maintains cordial relations with Moscow and is deepening its connections in energy, commerce, and finance. However, extraditing him to Russia could harm the emirate’s reputation as a desirable center for business and technology.
Durov wrote that he was in Georgia last week, but his present location is unknown.
He rejects any misconduct and claims that Telegram has gone beyond its obligations in moderating content and working with authorities to combat crime.
