MOSCOW: Russia has intensified its efforts to control the Telegram messaging app, announcing an investigation into its billionaire founder Pavel Durov over alleged links to terrorism.
The move comes as Moscow seeks to steer users toward a state-backed alternative, MAX.Russia’s state newspaper, “Rossiyskaya Gazeta”, reported that Telegram has become a tool for radicals, terrorists, NATO, and Ukraine, posing a “threat to society.”
The investigation cites Part 1.1 of Article 205.1 of the Russian Criminal Code, relating to assistance to terrorist activities.Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said authorities had noted material on Telegram that could “potentially pose a threat” and criticized the app’s administration for not cooperating with Russian authorities.
Russian officials have also tightened control over virtual private networks (VPNs) and other messaging apps, citing national security concerns amid ongoing attacks inside Russia and alleged sabotage attempts by Western intelligence agencies.
Telegram, created in 2013, is widely used in Russia and Ukraine, including by the Kremlin, pro-Russian propagandists, anti-Putin opposition groups, and Ukrainian officials. Durov, now based in the UAE, said Russia’s attempts to force citizens onto a state-controlled app would fail, emphasizing that Telegram “stands for freedom and privacy.”
Durov left Russia in 2014 after refusing to shut down opposition communities on VK, a social media platform he co-founded. He has also criticized restrictions in Europe, claiming French authorities pressured him to censor content on Telegram.
The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) has claimed that Ukrainian forces and intelligence services are harvesting data from Telegram, including from Russian soldiers.
