Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) has charged Telegram founder Pavel Durov with aiding terrorist activity and placed him on an international wanted list, as the Kremlin intensifies pressure on the messaging platform. In a related announcement, the FSB alleged that Ukrainian intelligence services had recruited young Russians through DaiVinchik/Leo, a popular Telegram dating bot. At the time, he described it as another pretext for Russian authorities to restrict Telegram and suppress privacy and freedom of speech. “Every day, authorities invent new pretexts to limit Russians’ access to Telegram,” Durov wrote, calling Russia “a state afraid of its own people.” OCCRP contacted Telegram and Durov for comment through the company’s official press channel but did not receive a response by publication.