Moscow slaps Telegram founder on wanted list, Durov responds with one-finger salute
Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) has charged Telegram founder Pavel Durov with facilitating terrorism and added him to an international wanted list, accusing the platform of failing to remove channels, chats and bots allegedly used by Ukrainian intelligence to recruit young Russians for sabotage and terrorism. The move escalates long-running tensions between the Kremlin and Durov, who left Russia in 2014, and comes as Moscow continues pushing citizens towards its state-backed MAX messenger while officials themselves still rely on Telegram for communications.
The FSB alleges Ukrainian operatives used the popular Telegram dating bot "Leo", which has over 13 million users, to pose as women, build fake romantic relationships with young Russian men, and then blackmail them via phishing links and fabricated law enforcement threats into carrying out armed attacks and arson against infrastructure. It says 46 Russian citizens aged 12 to 22 have been arrested since July 2025 in connection with the scheme. Leo was banned in Russia in December 2025 over alleged CSAM content and "LGBT propaganda", a designation tied to Russia's 2023 extremism ruling against the "international LGBT movement". Neither Durov nor Telegram has issued an official response, though Telegram's social media posted an image of Durov giving the camera his middle finger.
In short
- Russia charges Telegram's Pavel Durov with terrorism facilitation, adds him to wanted list
- FSB claims Ukrainian spies used Telegram's "Leo" dating bot to recruit Russian youths
- 46 arrests since July 2025; Durov's only response was a one-finger gesture
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
If the FSB’s allegations are substantiated, Russia can argue that Telegram has a responsibility to act when its services are used to groom and coerce young people into attacks, and that charges may be justified if the company knowingly failed to address serious threats. Protecting potential victims and critical infrastructure is a legitimate public duty.
The case against
The allegations are not proof of Durov’s or Telegram’s culpability, and an international wanted listing raises concerns about due process if it rests on claims that have not been independently tested. Critics may also see the case as political pressure on an independent platform, especially as officials promote a state-backed alternative and the FSB’s account links the alleged scheme to restrictions on the Leo bot.
Explained simply
Pavel Durov founded Telegram, a messaging platform used by hundreds of millions of people worldwide. He was born in Russia but left the country in 2014 amid tensions with the government and has remained abroad ever since. Although Russia has developed its own state-controlled messaging app, Telegram remains widely used in Russia, including by government officials.
Russian security authorities have now charged Durov with facilitating terrorism, accusing Telegram of hosting channels used by Ukrainian intelligence. The FSB claims Ukrainian operatives used a popular Telegram dating bot to build fake relationships with young Russians, then blackmailed them into carrying out attacks on infrastructure. The FSB says 46 young Russians aged 12 to 22 have been arrested since July 2025 in connection with the alleged plot.
This represents a major escalation in the long-standing tension between the Kremlin and Durov since his departure from Russia. By formally charging him with serious crimes and placing him on an international wanted list, Moscow is taking decisive legal action against the platform's founder. The dispute involves fundamental questions about how nations regulate technology platforms and manage information within their borders.