Telegram's Pavel Durov Now Wanted in Two Countries, Zero Wallets Closed 📡

Russia's Federal Security Service has placed Telegram founder Pavel Durov on an international wanted list, escalating a criminal case that accuses him of facilitating terrorist activity through the messaging platform. The FSB said on Wednesday that it had charged Durov and issued an international warrant for his arrest, according to local news agency Interfax.

Russian authorities allege that Telegram failed to remove channels, chats and bots used by Ukrainian intelligence services, terrorist groups and extremist organizations to coordinate attacks, recruit operatives and conduct cyber fraud. The move follows reports in February that Russian authorities had opened a criminal case against Durov. He confirmed the case in a post on X at the time and accused Russian authorities of using the investigation to pressure Telegram, writing: "Each day, the authorities fabricate new pretexts to restrict Russians' access to Telegram as they seek to suppress the right to privacy and free speech."

Separately, Durov remains subject to an ongoing criminal investigation in France over alleged illegal activity on Telegram. French authorities lifted travel restrictions earlier this year, allowing him to leave the country. Telegram previously announced plans to roll out a native Gram crypto wallet, a development that has sat alongside the mounting legal pressure on Durov across multiple jurisdictions. No timeline has been given for either the Russian or French proceedings.