Russian authorities said Wednesday they had charged Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of the popular messaging app Telegram, with aiding terrorism, the latest step by the Kremlin to bring the internet and digital communications under its control. Telegram, which boasts of more than 1 billion users worldwide, did not respond to a request for comment. Russia’s popular Facebook-like social media platform Vkontakte, founded by Durov long before he launched Telegram, had come under the control of Kremlin-friendly companies. Peskov didn't respond to a request for comment on what made Russian authorities change their position. Russia is accused of using Telegram as a recruitment toolRussia itself has faced accusations of using Telegram coordinate and recruit people to carry out acts of arson and sabotage in Ukraine and across Europe.