MOSCOW – Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) has opened a criminal investigation into Pavel Durov, the founder of the Telegram messaging app, alleging the platform facilitated terrorist activity, according to reports from state-run media outlets Tuesday.
Rossiyskaya Gazeta and Komsomolskaya Pravda reported that investigators are examining Telegram’s potential role in coordinating attacks, including the 2024 Crocus City Hall massacre, the killing of Darya Dugina, daughter of nationalist ideologue Aleksandr Dugin, and the death of General Igor Kirillov. The reports, citing the FSB, claim Telegram has been linked to over 153,000 crimes since 2022, with approximately 33,000 categorized as sabotage, terrorism, or extremism.
The move comes as Russia’s communications watchdog, Roskomnadzor, has been restricting access to Telegram, accusing the company of non-compliance with Russian law. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated Tuesday that authorities had identified “a large number of violations” and cited Telegram’s “unwillingness… to cooperate.”
This investigation marks a renewed effort by Moscow to exert control over the messaging app, a decade-long struggle that previously led to an attempted, but ultimately unsuccessful, ban in 2018. At that time, Russia sought to compel Telegram to provide encryption keys, a request the company refused. Since then, authorities have intermittently throttled the service and targeted other foreign platforms like WhatsApp.
Durov, who left Russia in 2014, has consistently characterized the pressure as politically motivated. Earlier this month, he warned that Moscow was attempting to steer users toward a domestically-controlled messaging application “built for surveillance and political censorship.” He reiterated Telegram’s commitment to “freedom of speech and privacy, no matter the pressure.”
The investigation also follows a rare wave of public outcry, including criticism from pro-Kremlin military bloggers, after Roskomnadzor initially moved to restrict Telegram. These critics warned that the app is widely used by Russian troops fighting in Ukraine and that limiting access would disrupt military communications. Digital development minister Maksud Shadayev has also expressed concerns that foreign intelligence agencies could be accessing messages sent by Russian soldiers via Telegram.
As of Tuesday evening, Durov had not issued a public statement regarding the criminal investigation. The FSB has not released further details regarding the specific charges or evidence supporting the allegations.
