Key takeawaysRussia's FSB charged Telegram founder Pavel Durov in absentia on July 29, 2026, under Part 1.1 of Article 205.1 of Russia's Criminal Code ("aiding terrorist activity") and issued an international arrest warrant. The FSB's stated justification is that Telegram refused to remove channels allegedly used by Ukrainian intelligence and extremist organizations to coordinate sabotage and terrorism inside Russia. Russia's Federal Security Service charged Telegram founder Pavel Durov in absentia with facilitating terrorist activity on July 29, 2026, and placed him on an international wanted list, per Reuters reporting the FSB statement via Interfax. No comment from Durov or Telegram had been issued as of filing. That claim originates entirely with Russian state sources and has not been independently verified.