Russian authorities have formally charged Telegram founder Pavel Durov with aiding terrorism, according to CBS News. The charges were announced on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, and an arrest warrant has been issued for Durov.
The charges stem from allegations that Durov facilitated terrorist activities through the messaging platform Telegram, CBS News reports. The Russian government has long criticized Telegram for its encryption and refusal to hand over user data, though the specific details of the new charges were not disclosed in the initial reporting.
Durov, who left Russia in 2014 after refusing to comply with government demands to block opposition groups on his VK social network, has been a vocal critic of Russian surveillance policies. Reuters reported that Durov responded to the charges by giving Moscow "the finger," indicating his defiance. The Moscow Times confirmed that the Federal Security Service (FSB) issued the arrest warrant.
This is not the first legal action Russia has taken against Durov. The country previously fined Telegram for refusing to provide decryption keys to authorities, and briefly blocked the app in 2018. The new terrorism charges represent a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between Durov and the Russian state.
The international community will be watching to see if Russia attempts to extradite Durov, who currently resides outside the country, or if the charges lead to broader actions against Telegram's operations.
