Russia Blacklists Telegram Founder Pavel Durov as 'Terrorist'
Russia has placed Telegram founder Pavel Durov on its ‘terrorists and extremists’ blacklist. This decision was made just one day after Russia announced plans to seek Durov’s arrest on allegations that he has allowed his platform to be exploited by Ukrainian intelligence.
Pavel Durov, who has resided abroad for many years and holds passports from France and the United Disct Emirates (UAE), is well known for his frequent clashes with Moscow authorities amidst Russia’s increasingly tight grip on the internet. Telegram remains a primary communication pillar for Russian citizens. For years, local officials have repeatedly attempted to block or shut down Telegram to pressure Durov into handing over user data.
Moscow has also actively encouraged citizens to migrate to ‘Max’, a government-made messaging app which Durov previously described as a tool for ‘surveillance and political censorship’ due to its lack of encryption.
The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) stated this week that it has initiated an international search for Durov, though it remains uncertain whether other nations or international law enforcement agencies will comply with the request. On Thursday, Durov’s name officially appeared on the online registry of ‘terrorists and extremists’ managed by the Russian financial watchdog, Rosfinmonitoring. Consequently, the 41-year-old is strictly prohibited from performing any financial transactions within Russian territory.
Accusations of supporting ‘terrorism’ or ‘extremism’ are frequently utilised by Moscow to target political opponents, including figures living abroad. According to the FSB, Telegram is deemed negligent for failing to remove popular dating bots that Moscow claims are being used by Ukrainian special services to recruit young Russians for ‘terrorist acts and sabotage.’
When contacted by AFP, Durov’s legal team and Telegram management both declined to provide an official response to the allegations. Prior to this recent conflict, in 2024, Durov was arrested by French police regarding illegal content on his platform, before being released on bail and leaving the country after his travel ban was lifted.
Durov was born in Saint Petersburg, the hometown of President Vladimir Putin. Before founding Telegram, he was the founder of VKontakte (VK), the social media platform often referred to as ‘Russia’s Facebook’. However, he was forced to leave the company following conflicts with Russian authorities demanding stricter control over the digital landscape.