Pavel Durov, founder of Telegram, is reportedly under criminal investigation by Russian authorities for “abetting terrorist activities.” According to the _Financial Times_, state-run publications accuse Durov of enabling attacks on Russia and claim Telegram has become an intelligence tool for Ukraine and the west.

This follows Russia’s recent blocking of Telegram alongside WhatsApp, which authorities framed as pushing users toward unencrypted state-owned alternatives. Ironically, pro-Russian voices had previously criticized the Telegram ban for disrupting frontline operations, as Russian soldiers rely on the app to communicate and coordinate. Border authorities use it to warn of incoming drone and missile attacks, and even Vladimir Putin’s spokesperson communicates with media through the platform.

Rossiiskaya Gazeta, citing Russia’s Federal Security Service, alleges Telegram intercepts location data, sells secret information, and intimidates soldiers and their families. The publication claims digital platforms like Telegram are “becoming strategic weapons” and accuses the app of serving “NATO countries’ secret services and the Kyiv regime.” Durov has not commented on the investigation, but previously stated Russia restricted access to force citizens onto a state-controlled app built for surveillance and political censorship. The Telegram founder, born in Russia and co-founder of the country’s largest social network VK, left after Kremlin pressure to sell his stake.