Russia's FSB security service opened a criminal investigation into Telegram founder Pavel Durov on Feb. 24, accusing him of facilitating terrorist activity under Article 205.1 of Russia's Criminal Code - a charge carrying a maximum sentence of 15 years.
The investigation was announced simultaneously in Rossiyskaya Gazeta and Komsomolskaya Pravda, both outlets citing FSB-sourced materials.
Telegram, which has more than 1 billion active users globally and approximately 90 million monthly users in Russia, did not immediately respond.
Durov lives in Dubai and holds French and UAE citizenship. He has not commented on the Russian investigation.
What Russia Is Claiming
State media cited FSB data alleging Telegram was linked to more than 153,000 crimes in Russia since 2022, of which 33,000 involved terrorism, sabotage, or extremism.
Russian authorities specifically named the March 2024 Crocus City Hall attack - which killed 145 people - as a crime allegedly coordinated through the app. The FSB also claimed Telegram ignored more than 150,000 content removal requests from Russia's media regulator, Roskomnadzor.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that "a large number of violations and the unwillingness of Telegram's administration to cooperate" had been recorded, and that authorities were taking measures they deemed appropriate.
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What Telegram and Durov Say
Durov said on Feb. 11 that Russia was restricting Telegram specifically to force citizens onto MAX, a state-backed messenger that critics describe as built for surveillance and political censorship.
"This authoritarian move won't change our course," Durov said.
Telegram has repeatedly denied being a haven for criminal activity and denies cooperating with Western or Ukrainian intelligence.
Context and What Comes Next
Russia first blocked Telegram in 2018 after the FSB demanded encryption keys; the ban was lifted in 2020. Access restrictions resumed in August 2025, including throttling of voice and video calls. WhatsApp was fully blocked in Russia in February 2026.
Roskomnadzor has reportedly already slowed Telegram traffic by up to 55% in some regions, and a complete block is reportedly planned for April 1, according to EADaily.
Durov left Russia in 2014 after refusing FSB demands to close opposition communities on VKontakte.
He was arrested at Paris's Le Bourget airport in August 2024 under separate French charges related to content moderation failures; his travel ban was lifted in November 2025, but the French investigation remains active.