Павел Дуров. Скриншот видео @TuckerCarlson
Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) has announced that charges have been brought against Telegram founder Pavel Durov. According to the Russian security agency, he is aiding terrorist activities.
“Telegram administrator P. Durov has been charged as part of an ongoing criminal investigation under Article 205.1, Part 1.1 (“Aiding Terrorist Activities”) of the Russian Criminal Code and has been placed on the international wanted list,” the FSB said in a statement.
The charges are based on allegations that the messaging platform has failed to remove “numerous channels, chats and bots on the platform that are actively used by Ukrainian special services, terrorist and extremist organisations to prepare and coordinate acts of sabotage and terrorism, mass killings, and cyber fraud in the Russian Federation.”
A criminal case against Durov was opened in February this year. At the same time, Russia’s communications regulator began slowing down Telegram’s operation in Russia.
Following the filing of the charges, Durov was placed on the international wanted list.
It is worth noting that while accusing Durov of aiding terrorist activities, the FSB itself actively uses his messaging platform to recruit spies and operatives to carry out acts of sabotage in Europe, according to materials from criminal cases under investigation in European Union countries.