Telegram Founder Pavel Durov Added to Russia's List of Extremists and Terrorists
Yesterday, the FSB accused Durov of aiding terrorist activity.
The Russian agency Rosfinmonitoring has included Pavel Durov, founder and head of the Telegram messenger, in the official register of individuals involved in extremist activities or terrorism.
This step entails the blocking of his bank accounts and financial assets within the territory of the Russian Federation.
Durov's inclusion in the list of terrorists came immediately after Russia's FSB announced that he had been charged in absentia under Part 1.1 of Article 205.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ("Assisting Terrorist Activity").
Russian special services claim that the Telegram administration refuses to delete channels and bots used for coordinating sabotage and terrorist acts.
In this regard, Russian authorities have declared the businessman internationally wanted.
Back in February, a criminal case was opened against Pavel Durov in Russia under the article "Assisting Terrorist Activity" (Part 1.1 of Article 205.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).
The FSB argued that Telegram in Russia had acquired the status not of a means of communication, but of a strategic weapon of the enemy.
On February 10, 2026, Roskomnadzor began a large-scale blocking, which is called "traffic degradation."