Russia lists Telegram CEO as a terrorist.

Russian authorities have placed Pavel Durov, founder and CEO of Telegram, on a list of “terrorists and extremists” after issuing an international arrest warrant.

The decision was announced today by the Federal Financial Supervisory Service (Rosfinmonitoring), which collects and analyzes financial transaction information to combat crime in Russia.

Individuals and organizations named on this list will be prohibited from contacting the media, posting information online, organizing public events, participating in elections, and using financial services other than paying taxes, receiving salaries, and compensation.

The Telegram CEO has not yet commented on the information.

Pavel Durov speaking at the Digital Bridge 2025 event in Astana, Kazakhstan in October 2025. Photo: Avesta

Rosfinmonitoring issued the decision a day after the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) issued an international arrest warrant for Durov on charges of “aiding and abetting terrorism.”

According to the FSB, the Telegram platform operated by Durov failed to remove content “used by Ukrainian special services and terrorist organizations to carry out sabotage, terrorism, massacres, and online fraud in Russia.”

Russian authorities claim that Ukrainian agents approached their citizens by impersonating women through the Telegram dating service Dayvinchik, sending phishing links to trick victims into believing they were paying for movie tickets, concerts, or gifts.

The impersonators then contacted the victims, claiming their money had been transferred to Ukrainian military accounts. They were then lured into attacks against Russian armed forces, sabotage of energy and communication infrastructure.

Following reports of an international arrest warrant, Telegram’s account on the social media platform X posted a photo of Durov giving the middle finger, but offered no further comment.

Telegram, the encrypted messaging app launched in 2013, claims to have over a billion users and is widely used by both sides in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Russian authorities have repeatedly sought to restrict Telegram’s use over the years.

Durov was born in Russia and holds passports from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and France. He founded VKontakte, a social network dubbed the “Facebook of Russia,” before selling all his shares in 2014.

French authorities are investigating Durov on allegations that Telegram failed to effectively handle criminal activity on its platform and did not fully cooperate with law enforcement requests.

Durov denies all allegations from France. His whereabouts are currently unknown.