Russia issues arrest request for Telegram founder Pavel Durov

Russian authorities have announced that they are seeking the arrest of Telegram founder Pavel Durov, accusing him of allowing the messaging platform to be used for activities linked to terrorism. The move marks the latest escalation in Moscow’s long running dispute with the tech entrepreneur, who has repeatedly clashed with Russian officials over internet freedom and user privacy.

Russia’s Federal Security Service, known as the FSB, said it had launched international search proceedings against Durov, alleging that Telegram was being used by Ukraine’s security services to recruit Russian citizens for sabotage and other attacks. The agency claimed that Durov failed to remove a dating bot that it says played a central role in these recruitment efforts.

According to the FSB, an international wanted notice has been issued for Durov, who serves as Telegram’s chief executive. However, Russian authorities did not clarify the type of notice issued or whether foreign governments or international law enforcement agencies would recognise or act on the request.

Durov’s legal representatives declined to comment on the allegations, while Telegram said the company would not make any public statement at this stage.

The FSB alleged that a bot known as Leo Match Bot, which is banned in Russia, was used by individuals posing as young women to contact Russian teenagers and young adults. Authorities claimed these fake identities were created by Ukrainian intelligence agents to persuade users to attack police officers and carry out acts of sabotage against transport and energy infrastructure.

Russian officials said that since July 2025, 46 people between the ages of 12 and 22 have been arrested in connection with attacks allegedly organised through the messaging bot. Ukraine has not publicly responded to these specific accusations.

Since the beginning of the war, both Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of using online platforms and social media to recruit supporters and gather intelligence. The internet has become an increasingly important part of the conflict, with governments closely monitoring digital communication and online activity.

Durov, who was born in Saint Petersburg, left Russia years ago and now holds French and United Arab Emirates citizenship. He first gained prominence after creating VKontakte, Russia’s largest social networking platform, before losing control of the company as government pressure increased. He later founded Telegram, which has grown into one of the world’s most widely used encrypted messaging services.

Telegram has remained especially popular in Russia despite repeated attempts by the government to restrict access to the platform. Officials have long criticised the company for refusing to provide user data and have encouraged citizens to use state backed communication services instead.

Durov also faced legal challenges in France last year, when he was arrested as part of an investigation into the distribution of illegal content through Telegram. He was later released on bail, and French authorities eventually lifted restrictions on his travel, allowing him to leave the country.

The latest action by Russia comes as state controlled social media company VK continues promoting its government backed messaging application Max as an alternative to Telegram and WhatsApp. Russian authorities have increasingly supported domestic digital platforms as part of broader efforts to strengthen control over online communications.

The announcement adds another chapter to the long standing conflict between the Russian government and Durov, whose commitment to encrypted communication and user privacy has repeatedly placed him at odds with Moscow’s efforts to regulate internet platforms. The outcome of Russia’s international arrest request remains uncertain, particularly given Durov’s residence outside the country and his foreign citizenship.