Russian authorities said on Wednesday that tthey had charged Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of the messaging app Telegram, with aiding terrorism, the latest step by the Kremlin to bring the Internet and digital communications under its control. The charges against the Russia-born Durov, who lives abroad, came as the authorities have sought to restrict the use of Telegram as part of a widespread crackdown on online freedom that followed Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Russia’s main domestic security agency says the founder of the messaging app Telegram has been charged with aiding terrorism and put on an international wanted list.

ALBAWABA - Russia announced on Wednesday that it charged Telegram CEO and founder Pavel Durov with facilitating terrorism, stating further that it issue