The Federal Security Service (FSB), Russia’s main domestic security and counterintelligence agency, said that Telegram founder Pavel Durov has been charged with aiding terrorism activity, TASS reported Wednesday.
The agency alleges that the messaging platform failed to remove channels, chats and bots used to organize terrorist attacks and sabotage in the country. Authorities have placed him on the international wanted list.
According to the FSB, Telegram continues to allow channels, chats and bots operated by Ukrainian intelligence services, terrorist organizations and extremist groups that are used to coordinate sabotage, terrorist attacks, mass killings and cyber fraud in Russia. Those activities have allegedly caused numerous casualties and billions of rubles in economic losses.
Russia says Ukrainian agents used Telegram chatbot to recruit minors
Russia’s Investigative Committee says it is handling a series of criminal investigations into sabotage and terrorist attacks allegedly committed by Russian citizens, claiming Ukrainian intelligence services used Telegram’s Daivinchik/Leo dating chatbot as a recruitment tool.
