Soon afterwards, Telegram's official account on X posted an image of Durov making an obscene ‌gesture with his ‌middle finger. Russia has repeatedly tried to restrict Telegram's use in recent years, promoting its own state-backed MAX messenger service. Yet state bodies including the Kremlin and the defence ministry continue to post to ⁠Telegram on a daily basis. The Russian announcement follows an official state newspaper reporting in February that Durov was under investigation in a terrorism-related ​case. In ​April, Durov posted on Telegram that ​a summons for "Suspect PV Durov" had been delivered ‌to an apartment in Russia where he lived 20 years ago.