Russia seeks arrest of Telegram chief Durov

International

2026-07-302026-07-30By Correspondent

MOSCOW – Russia yesterday announced that it was seeking the arrest of Telegram founder Pavel Durov over accusations of “complicity in terrorism”, alleging he had let the platform be used for recruitment by Ukraine’s security services.

Russian-born Durov, a serial tech founder who has lived outside Russia for years and holds French and United Arab Emirates passports – has frequently clashed with the Russian authorities as Moscow has tightened its grip on the internet.