Russia Targets Telegram as Pavel Durov Faces Terror Charges

After several years of back and forth, the conflict between Russia and Telegram has a new development. The FSB has just formally indicted the founder and CEO of the encrypted messaging platform, Pavel Durov. The charge cited: complicity for terrorism. The Kremlin even goes further by putting Durov on the list of wanted persons. More than just a legal proceeding, this case revives the debate on encryption and content moderation. And not only that! Some analysts are already anticipating the impact on the TON crypto ecosystem.

Telegram faces the FSB: Pavel officially indicted for “facilitation of terrorist activities”

The preliminary investigation dates back to February 2026. And the verdict came 6 months later (on July 29, 2026): the founder of Telegram is indicted under Article 205.1, paragraph 1.1, of the Russian Criminal Code. This law concerns aiding terrorist activities. It provides for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, or even life imprisonment.

According to the FSB, Telegram refuses to delete discussion channels and bots used to coordinate terrorist attacks as well as acts of sabotage in Russia. More concretely, these tools allegedly served Ukrainian intelligence services to prepare sabotage, mass assassinations, and cyber fraud. The consequences? Deaths (including women and children) as well as material damages estimated in the billions of rubles.

That’s not all! The official statement also mentions the arrest of 46 Russians aged 12 to 22. According to the FSB, Ukrainian agents recruited them to carry out attacks on state infrastructures since July 2025.

Note that the claims come exclusively from the Russian agency’s statement. In other words, the information has not been verified by an independent source. It is thus an official declaration to be distinguished from a judicially established fact.

The indictment of Pavel Durov is not insignificant

Certainly, the investigation targeting Durov only dates from February 2026. However, the Russian media and telecommunications regulator Roskomnadzor had already restricted access to Telegram since August 2025. The platform has even already been fined over 100 million rubles this year for not removing prohibited content.

According to some analysts, the FSB’s current approach contrasts with a recent Kremlin statement. On July 27, its spokesperson Dmitry Peskov indeed emphasized that discussions continue with Telegram’s leadership to resolve messaging access issues. However, he points out the company’s lack of responsiveness.

For many, Durov’s indictment thus appears as a legal ultimatum with a clear message: “cooperate or we will take action.”

Good to know: the founder of Telegram is also subject to a prosecution in France. In August 2024, he was arrested and indicted for:

• non-cooperation with justice;
• organized fraud;
• drug trafficking;
• child pornography.

He was released under judicial supervision against a bail of 5 million euros.

This information is relevant since Pavel Durov holds four passports: Russian, French, Emirati, and Saint Kitts. This means the CEO of Telegram is currently targeted by two judicial systems with opposing logics. The French case concerns an obligation to cooperate with Western investigators. For its part, the FSB accuses him of complicity with intelligence services of a country at war with Russia.

His French passport theoretically protects him in Europe. However, the ongoing procedure in Paris complicates the situation. Durov cannot travel to countries that have extradition agreements with Moscow, even without an Interpol notice.

What is the next step for Telegram? Experts consider three scenarios

Telegram today has more than 90 million Russian users. If the messaging platform were completely blocked in Russia, they would have no choice but to migrate to VPNs or MAX. This is a Russian instant messaging application launched in 2025 and heavily supported by Moscow. Telegram would then lose a significant market. Nevertheless, it would still retain its global audience.

Second scenario: Pavel Durov negotiates remotely. This involves partial moderation which would be consolidated by opening a legal office in Russia. According to some analysts, such a possibility seems unlikely since the founder of Telegram already left Russia in 2014. The reason: refusal to censor VKontakte, the social network he founded in 2006.

Last scenario: decentralization accelerates. This means the TON crypto ecosystem becomes totally independent. The GRAM wallet would then position itself as Telegram’s financial infrastructure, beyond the reach of any court. Moreover, the reaction was immediate in the crypto market. Evidence: the Toncoin price (renamed GRAM in June) dropped about 3.50% in just 24 hours. At the time of writing this article, it is priced at $1.39.

In any case, July 29 marks a turning point in the judicial conflict between Russia and Telegram. Above all, this indictment confirms that Telegram has become a full-fledged geopolitical issue (well beyond encrypted messaging). It remains to be seen if the Russian judicial pressure will weigh on Durov’s strategic choices regarding TON and the future of the platform in Russia.