Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) on Wednesday charged Pavel Durov, founder and owner of the messaging app Telegram, with aiding terrorism, and subsequently placed him on an international wanted list. The FSB also alleged that Ukrainian security services used a Telegram dating chatbot to recruit Russian citizens, including minors, for attacks on law enforcement and arson. Pavel Durov, the Russian-born entrepreneur who now holds French and Emirati citizenship and lives in Dubai, could face up to life in prison if convicted under Article 205.1 of the Russian Criminal Code. Russia attempted to block Telegram between 2018 and 2020 but failed, and authorities began effectively blocking it again in the summer of 2025. Rights groups condemned Russia’s Telegram restrictions in February as a blow to freedom of expression and warned of further censorship measures in March.