Russia puts Telegram founder Durov on international wanted list, claims Ukrainian intelligence uses his app

Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) has announced that Telegram founder Pavel Durov is accused of facilitating terrorist activity and has been placed on an international wanted list.

Source: Latvia-based Russian media outlet Meduza

Details: The FSB said in a statement that Telegram had failed to remove content banned in Russia. It also claimed that channels, chats and bots used by Ukrainian intelligence services, as well as what it described as "terrorist and extremist organisations", to coordinate sabotage, cyber fraud and other crimes continued to operate on the platform.

The FSB also claimed to have uncovered a bot-based recruitment scheme. It claimed that Ukrainian intelligence services, posing as young women, contacted young Russian men and recruited them to carry out attacks and acts of arson.

Background: Following the introduction of restrictions on Telegram's operations in Russia, the state-run Russian media outlets reported that the FSB was investigating Durov as part of a criminal case over the alleged facilitation of terrorism. The Kremlin had previously said Telegram's leadership was unwilling to cooperate with the Russian authorities.

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