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Russia has opened a criminal investigation into Telegram founder Pavel Durov over allegations linked to terrorist activity, as authorities intensify pressure on the messaging platform and its operations inside the country.
Russian state media outlet Rossiyskaya Gazeta reported Tuesday that investigators were examining Durov under legislation related to aiding terrorist activity, citing materials compiled by the Federal Security Service (FSB) and the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
According to the materials, law enforcement agencies recorded more than 153,000 crimes committed using Telegram since 2022, including 33,000 cases categorized as sabotage, terrorism, or extremism. Authorities said security services had prevented 475 terrorist attacks that were allegedly organized through the messaging app.
Russian officials also stated that 61 planned school mass killings were intercepted. These plots were reportedly carried out by teenagers who authorities claimed had been influenced by external coordinators communicating via Telegram.
Security agencies said the March 2024 terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall was coordinated through Telegram. Investigators alleged that attackers used the platform’s analytical tools to collect personal data, including family connections, daily routines, and travel patterns of targeted individuals.
Authorities claimed victims included Russian citizens, bloggers, journalists, and military officials. Among those named were Daria Dugina and Maxim Fomin, as well as nine senior military officers, including Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov. Officials also reported approximately 700 direct threats made against family members of Russian military personnel through the platform.
Russian media regulator Roskomnadzor said it had sent more than 150,000 formal requests to Telegram demanding the removal of illegal content over recent years, but claimed the company failed to respond adequately.
In a separate legal action, Moscow’s Tagansky District Court fined Telegram 10.8 million rubles ($140,722.49) on Feb. 11 after finding the company guilty of failing to remove prohibited information. Since the beginning of 2026, the same court registered eight administrative cases against Telegram, including repeated violations related to content monitoring and access restrictions.
Russia’s communications regulator also announced plans to slow Telegram’s service starting Feb. 10 in an effort to force compliance with domestic regulations.
Durov responded by comparing the situation to restrictions imposed in Iran several years ago, when authorities attempted to shift users toward state-controlled messaging platforms but were unable to fully replace Telegram.
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