Russia announced on Wednesday, July 29, that it was seeking the arrest of Telegram founder Pavel Durov over accusations of "complicity in terrorism," alleging he had let the platform be used for recruitment by Ukraine's security services, Le Monde reports.
Russian-born Durov – a serial tech founder who has lived outside Russia for years and holds French and United Arab Emirates passports – has frequently clashed with the Russian authorities as Moscow has tightened its grip on the internet.
His Telegram messenger is one of the country's main communications platforms and officials have repeatedly tried to block access or thwart its success in a bid to pressure Durov to hand over user data or push Russians to use an unencrypted state-backed alternative. The FSB security service said it had launched international search proceedings for Durov, who is also Telegram's CEO.
"An international wanted notice has been issued (...) for the head of the Telegram administration, P. Durov," it said in a statement.
It was unclear what kind of wanted notice Russia had issued and whether other countries or law enforcement bodies would accept or comply with it. Lawyers for Durov, 41, declined to comment when contacted by Agence France-Presse (AFP). "Pavel Durov does not wish to comment at this stage," Telegram told AFP.
Follow us on Telegram
t.me/apanewsaz
Follow us on Instagram
Follow us on TikTok
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on X
