Russia has launched a criminal investigation into the Telegram founder, Pavel Durov, on suspicion of “abetting terrorist activities”, further escalating the Kremlin’s standoff with the widely used messaging app.
The state newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazeta reported on Tuesday that a case had been opened “based on materials from Russia’s federal security service”, which accused the app of being compromised by western and Ukrainian intelligence.
Durov, who lives abroad, criticised the investigation against him, describing it as an attempt to “suppress the right to privacy and free speech”.
“A sad spectacle of a state afraid of its own people,” he wrote on social media.
Earlier this month, Moscow announced it would slow down Telegram’s traffic because of what it said were multiple violations, as the Kremlin attempts to steer tens of millions of Russian users towards a state-controlled alternative, known as MAX.
The strategy forms part of the Kremlin’s push to build a “sovereign internet”, an online space tightly controlled by the state.
Asked about the investigation into Durov, the Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, said authorities had identified quantities of material on Telegram that could “potentially pose a threat” to Russia.
Pavel Durov has long had a complicated relationship with the Kremlin Photograph: Giuseppe Cacace/AFP/Getty Images
“A large number of violations and the unwillingness of Telegram’s administration to cooperate with our authorities have been recorded,” Peskov said. “Our relevant authorities are taking the measures they deem appropriate.”
Rossiyskaya Gazeta, quoting officials, claimed Telegram had been used in 13 alleged Ukrainian plots targeting senior Russian military officers, as well as in tens of thousands of bombings, arson attacks and killings since the start of the war.
Despite the pressure, Moscow has stopped short of blocking Telegram outright because of its widespread use among civilians and officials, and its role as a key communication tool on the frontline.
Russian officials have indicated they would be willing to allow Telegram to continue operating if it complied with Russian law, which human rights campaigners say would mean granting access to private chats and purging opposition channels.
The app’s ultra-libertarian founder has long had a complicated relationship with the Kremlin.
Durov, 42, left Russia in 2014 after selling his first company, VK, often described as a Russian version of Facebook, following pressure from the authorities. He established Telegram in Dubai, where he now lives. He holds Emirati and French citizenship.
Russian authorities tried but failed to block Telegram in 2018, after which an uneasy accommodation appeared to emerge with Durov. But Moscow’s renewed crackdown on media and online platforms it does not control has once again put Telegram in its sights.
Separately, Russia has blocked WhatsApp, Facebook and YouTube, prompting a surge in VPN downloads among Russian users.
The tech billionaire has also faced scrutiny from western authorities, who have criticised what they said was weak moderation on the app.
Last August, he was detained and held for three days in France during an investigation into crimes linked to Telegram, including the circulation of child sexual abuse material, drug trafficking and fraudulent transactions.
