Russia charges Telegram founder Pavel Durov with aiding terrorism, seeks his arrest

Key Points:

• Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) has charged Pavel Durov, founder of Telegram, with aiding terrorism and placed him on an international wanted list, accusing Telegram of enabling Ukrainian intelligence and extremist groups to coordinate attacks in Russia.
• The charges coincide with intensified Russian government efforts to control the internet, including restrictions on Telegram and other popular messaging apps, amid the ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
• Telegram responded to the charges with a provocative image of Durov making an obscene gesture on its official X account, while Durov, who resides in Dubai and holds French and UAE citizenship, has denied allegations and called Russian actions attempts to suppress privacy and free speech.
• Russia has banned or restricted multiple social media platforms and messaging services, promoting its own national app, MAX, which lacks end-to-end encryption and shares user data with authorities, raising concerns about surveillance.
• Durov has also faced legal challenges abroad, including a 2024 arrest in Paris over allegations of illicit activities on Telegram; Russian President Putin criticized the French authorities for selective enforcement against Durov.