Feb 24, 2026, 3:38 p.mFeb 24, 2026, 3:38 p.m
Moscow’s action against the messenger service Telegram is coming to a head. The actions of Telegram co-founder Pawel Durov are being investigated as part of a criminal case for supporting terrorist activities.
Telegram founder Pawel Durow.Image: Screenshot: Instagram
The Russian government newspaper “Rossiyskaya Gazeta,” among others, wrote this in a text that is said to have been created with information from the domestic secret service FSB.
The messenger is said to have been used in numerous crimes, the government newspaper wrote, citing Russian authorities. Among other things, she mentioned – without evidence – the serious terrorist attack with more than 140 deaths in the Crocus City Hall concert hall in Moscow almost two years ago.
Durov left Russia years ago
It is a further escalation in dealing with the messenger service in Russia. It was only at the weekend that the FSB classified him as a security risk. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov now repeated the accusation that Telegram was refusing to cooperate. The responsible authorities therefore took action.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.Image: sda
Durov left Russia years ago. Telegram calls have been blocked there for a long time, and the messenger was recently throttled. Other services such as WhatsApp and Signal are blocked. Moscow has massively tightened internet censorship since it began its invasion of Ukraine four years ago. (sda/dpa)