Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said on July 29 that it has charged Telegram founder Pavel Durov with helping terrorist activities and has issued an international arrest warrant for him.

The agency said the case is linked to Telegram not removing content that was allegedly used by Ukrainian intelligence services and extremist groups. According to the FSB, this content was used to plan sabotage, terrorist attacks, mass killings, and online fraud operations inside Russia.

Soon after the announcement, Telegram's official account on X posted an image of Durov making an obscene gesture. Neither Durov nor the company gave any further response. If he is found guilty, he could face life in prison in Russia.

Telegram, which was launched in 2013, says it has more than one billion users. Both Russia and Ukraine widely use it during the ongoing war. In recent years, Moscow has tried several times to restrict the platform while promoting a state-supported alternative called MAX. However, Russian government bodies, including the Kremlin and the defense ministry, still use Telegram every day.

Durov was born in Russia but later became a citizen of France and the United Arab Emirates. He also founded VKontakte, often called Russia's version of Facebook, before selling his remaining shares in 2014 under pressure from Russian authorities.

Separately, French investigators are looking into whether Telegram failed to control criminal activity and did not cooperate enough with law enforcement. Durov has denied all allegations.

The Russian move comes after earlier reports in February that he was under investigation in a terrorism-related case. In April, Durov said a legal notice meant for him had been sent to an apartment in Russia where he had lived about 20 years ago.

At that time, he suggested that authorities suspected him of defending constitutional rights such as free speech and private communication. He added that he was proud of this position.

Posts on social media suggest that Durov has been traveling recently. In May, he appeared to be in Dubai, and on July 23 he said he was impressed by Georgia and hoped to visit again. His exact location is not known, but Telegram's website says the company is based in Dubai and that he lives there.

Under President Vladimir Putin, Russia has increased its control over the internet through strict laws, bans on platforms that do not comply with rules, and technologies to monitor and influence online activity.

Platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and X have been banned in Russia. YouTube has been slowed down, while apps like Signal and Viber have been blocked. Others, including WhatsApp and Telegram, face restrictions.

Some users try to circumvent these limits by using virtual private networks (VPNs), but many VPN services are regularly blocked. At the same time, the government promotes the domestic MAX messaging app. Critics warn that it could allow greater surveillance.

The app offers messaging, government services, and payments, and clearly states that it will share user data with authorities when asked. Experts also say it lacks end-to-end encryption.

Durov has also faced legal issues in other countries. In 2024, he was arrested in Paris over claims that Telegram was being used for illegal activities such as drug trafficking and sharing child sexual abuse material. In March 2025, he said he had returned to Dubai after spending several months in France.

At that time, the Kremlin criticized France's actions as selective. President Vladimir Putin said many countries, including Russia, had concerns about how such platforms were used. He argued that if those concerns justified action against Durov, then similar steps should be taken against others, and said France's approach seemed inconsistent.