**Telegram Founder Wanted in Russia for Alleged Recruitment of Terrorists**
Pavel Durov, the founder of the messaging platform Telegram, is now wanted by Russian authorities for allegedly facilitating the recruitment of Russian citizens for terrorist activities by Ukrainian special services. The Federal Security Service (FSB) made this announcement on Wednesday, detailing the accusations stemming from an investigation into a specific Telegram channel that was purportedly used for dating.
According to the FSB, the channel in question was exploited by Ukrainian agents who posed as women seeking romantic connections. These agents allegedly engaged with potential targets, often young men, requesting minor gifts. Once a gift was given, the individuals were reportedly contacted by people impersonating Russian law enforcement officials. These impersonators claimed that the targets had inadvertently assisted Ukraine's military efforts and could mitigate their legal troubles by cooperating with the fake authorities. This manipulation purportedly led to some individuals being coerced into committing serious crimes, including arson and serving as couriers for money laundering operations.
The FSB's statement specifically pointed to Durov as the owner of the platform, accusing him of neglecting to address reports regarding illicit activities occurring on the dating channel and other related resources. As a result of these allegations, the FSB announced that Durov would be placed on an international wanted list.
This is not the first time Durov has faced scrutiny regarding the use of Telegram for illegal activities. He has previously been accused by French authorities of being responsible for crimes committed through the app. Durov has consistently rejected these claims, suggesting that they are politically motivated efforts to pressure him into imposing censorship on his platform in favor of Western interests.
The FSB's investigation revealed that at least 48 Russian citizens, aged between 12 and 22, had been coerced through the dating channel. The adult suspects involved in these incidents now face severe legal repercussions, including lengthy prison sentences for charges such as terrorism, sabotage, and assault on law enforcement officers. The FSB emphasized that the recruitment of individuals through Telegram channels is a widespread issue, with multiple channels being utilized for such purposes.
In addition to the current allegations, the dating channel under investigation had previously been flagged by the Russian media regulator Roskomnadzor in 2025. The regulator identified content on the channel that it deemed to be child pornography and LGBT propaganda, asserting that it should have been blocked within Russia.
As the situation develops, the implications of these allegations against Durov and the ongoing use of Telegram as a communication tool in conflict scenarios remain a point of significant concern for both Russian authorities and international observers.