Russia Issues International Wanted Notice for Telegram CEO Pavel Durov

The Federal Security Service (FSB) and the Investigative Committee of Russia issued an international wanted notice for Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of Telegram, on July 29, 2026. Russian authorities charged Durov with complicity in terrorism, alleging that Telegram's management refused to remove channels and bots used by Ukrainian intelligence and extremist organizations to coordinate mass killings, sabotage, and cyber fraud within Russia.

Specifically, the FSB claimed that Ukrainian operatives utilized a dating bot called Daivinchik to recruit 46 Russians, aged 12 to 22, for criminal acts against infrastructure and law enforcement. If convicted in Russia, Durov faces a potential life sentence. The move coincides with broader Kremlin efforts to control the internet and promote MAX, a state-backed messaging alternative.

Durov, a dual citizen of France and the United Arab Emirates residing in Dubai, has denied wrongdoing and previously accused Russia of using such pretexts to suppress privacy and free speech. In response to the charges, Telegram's official X account posted an image of Durov raising his middle finger. This legal action follows a previous August 2024 arrest in France over allegations of illicit activity, including drug trafficking and child sexual abuse, for which he was released on bail.