Telegram founder Durov wanted: Russian secret service issues arrest warrant

This would prepare and coordinate acts of sabotage and terrorism, mass killings and cyber fraud in the Russian Federation. Shortly after the arrest warrant became known, an image was published on the official Telegram account on the short messaging service X. It shows Durov giving the middle finger. There was initially no further comment from Durow or Telegram.

Durov was born in Russia but is now a citizen of the United Arab Emirates and France. Before Telegram, he founded the Russian Facebook counterpart VKontakte. He sold his remaining share in 2014 under pressure from the Russian authorities. The encrypted messenger service Telegram, founded in 2013, claims to have more than a billion users and is used intensively by both sides in the war between Russia and Ukraine.

There are always conflicts about Telegram

Russia has repeatedly tried to restrict the use of Telegram in recent years and is promoting its own state-backed service, MAX. Nevertheless, government agencies such as the Kremlin and the Ministry of Defense publish daily posts on Telegram.

The French authorities are also investigating Durow. Telegram is accused of not taking sufficient action against criminal activities on the platform and of insufficiently cooperating with law enforcement authorities. Durov rejects the allegations.

The announcement from Moscow had already been preceded by sharper tones. In February, a Russian state newspaper reported that Durov was being investigated on suspicion of terrorism. In April, Durov posted on Telegram that a subpoena for “suspect PW Durov” had been delivered to an apartment in Russia where he lived 20 years ago. He wrote at the time: “You must suspect me of defending Articles 29 and 23 of the Russian Constitution – which guarantee freedom of expression and the right to private correspondence. I proudly plead guilty!”

Whereabouts unclear

Where Durow is currently staying remained unclear. A post on his Telegram channel on May 16 suggested he was in Dubai. On July 23, he wrote that he was “very impressed with Georgia” and hoped to “return very soon.”