Pavel Durov, the billionaire founder and CEO of the Telegram messaging app, has repeatedly run into trouble with both the Kremlin and Western officials as he cast himself as a champion of free speech.On Wednesday, Russia’s Federal Security Service, or FSB, accused him of aiding what it called terrorist activities. It also said it was adding Durov’s name to international wanted lists.The Russian-born Durov, 41, responded to the charges by posting an image of himself raising a middle finger on Telegram’s official account on X. He has denounced previous Kremlin attempts to restrict Telegram as an attack on freedom of expression.The case marks an escalation of the Kremlin’s efforts to tighten control over the internet and digital communications as it prepares for parliamentary elections in September amid rising public fatigue with the 4-year-old war in Ukraine and its growing economic fallout.What to know about Durov, Telegram and the charges against him:
Durov founded a popular social media platform in RussiaDurov was born in Leningrad, now St. Petersburg, and now also holds citizenship in France, the United Arab Emirates and the Caribbean island nation of St. Kitts and Nevis.In 2006 at age 22, Durov and his brother, Nikolai, founded VKontakte, Russia’s largest social network that is similar to Facebook. The company later came under pressure from authorities after mass anti-Kremlin protests in 2011-12, eventually prompting Durov to sell his stake in VKontakte.
