Russia’s Federal Security Service, or FSB, said on July 29 that Telegram founder Pavel Durov had been charged with facilitating terrorist activity.
According to the Russian security service, Telegram’s administration failed to remove channels and bots that were used to coordinate terrorist attacks and acts of sabotage inside Russia.
The FSB also said Durov was being placed on an international wanted list.
However, there was no public confirmation that a separate Interpol notice had been issued for the Telegram founder. The assertion that he was internationally wanted came from the Russian authorities.
Durov has not been found guilty by a court on the charge. Russian authorities have not publicly presented independent evidence showing his personal involvement in facilitating terrorist activity.
On July 30, Russia’s financial monitoring agency Rosfinmonitoring added Durov to the country’s official list of people designated as involved in terrorism and extremism. The listing imposes restrictions on financial transactions in Russia, but it does not itself constitute a judicial finding of guilt.