“An international wanted notice has been issued… for the head of the Telegram administration, P. Durov,” it said in a statement. Social media warMoscow frequently targets political enemies with charges of supporting “terrorism” or “extremism”, including those who have left the country. Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of using social media to recruit people to support them in the four-and-a-half-year war. Born in Saint Petersburg – President Vladimir Putin’s home city – Durov founded VKontakte, a social media site widely known as “Russia’s Facebook”. He was essentially forced out of the company as it came under pressure from the authorities in the mid 2010s and founded Telegram, a social media platform and private messenger.