The Federal Security Service of Russia (FSB) has initiated legal proceedings against Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, accusing him of enabling terrorist actions and not adhering to Russian regulations concerning the removal of prohibited content. These allegations were officially announced on Wednesday.
Telegram Allegedly Used for Terrorist Activities
According to the FSB, Telegram has become a tool for Ukrainian intelligence and extremist entities to orchestrate acts of sabotage, terrorism, and cyber-fraud within Russia. The agency claims that the platform has allowed numerous channels and bots to remain active, which have been instrumental in planning attacks that resulted in significant casualties and financial loss.
As part of the investigation, Durov faces charges under Part 1.1 of Article 205.1 of Russia’s Criminal Code, which pertains to aiding terrorist activities. His name has also been added to an international wanted list.
Details of the Investigation
The FSB reports that Ukrainian operatives have leveraged a Telegram bot named “Daivinchik/Leo-Dating, Chatting, and New Friends” to recruit young Russians for acts of terrorism. These recruits, aged 12 to 22, have allegedly engaged in armed assaults and arson targeting key infrastructure within Russia.
Furthermore, FSB operations, in collaboration with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Investigative Committee, have led to the detention of 46 individuals involved in these activities. The agency also highlights that funds acquired through fraudulent means were converted into cryptocurrency, which was subsequently transferred to adversarial accounts.
Psychological Manipulation and Coercion
The FSB accuses Ukrainian agents of posing as women on the “Daivinchik” dating service to manipulate Russian men into revealing sensitive geographic information. It is alleged that these men were then coerced into actions under the guise of counter-terrorism checks, with the threat of legal consequences looming over them.
In subsequent interactions, these men were contacted by individuals masquerading as Russian authorities, who claimed that the shared data was being used for military purposes, heightening the psychological pressure on them.
Telegram’s Response and Recent Developments
In reaction to these charges, Telegram’s official X account shared an image of Durov making a rude gesture. Durov, who currently resides in Dubai, has not issued a formal statement regarding these accusations.
This legal action coincides with Russia’s stringent measures against Telegram, including throttling and a near-total ban earlier this year. This is not the first time Durov has faced legal challenges; he was previously detained in France for similar allegations concerning illegal activities on his platform.
