Russia Telegram Founder

FILE - Protesters hold a portrait of messaging app Telegram co-founder Pavel Durov designed as an icon, protesting against the blocking of the app in Russia, during a May Day rally in St. Petersburg, Russia, Tuesday, May 1, 2018.

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Russia accuses Telegram CEO Pavel Durov of aiding terrorism in its latest digital crackdown

Russia accuses Telegram CEO Pavel Durov of aiding terrorism in its latest digital crackdown

Russian authorities have charged Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of the popular messaging app Telegram, with aiding terrorism and placed him on an international wanted list. The Federal Security Service, or FSB, accused Telegram of failing to remove content allegedly used by Ukrainian intelligence and extremist groups. This comes as Russia intensifies efforts to control the internet, restricting Telegram and other platforms. Durov, a billionaire who lives in Dubai, could face life in prison if convicted. Since Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russian authorities have been cracking down on internet freedom, banning platforms like Facebook and Instagram.