GoCheckMyCrypto.comRussia charges Telegram founder Durov with aiding terrorism
Russia's FSB charged Telegram founder Pavel Durov with aiding terrorist activity and placed him on an international wanted list, accusing the platform of failing to remove channels used by Ukrainian intelligence and extremist groups. The charges carry a potential life sentence. Telegram hosts over 1 billion users and is integrated with The Open Network blockchain, which supports payments and tokenized assets within the app.
Russia's Federal Security Service charged Telegram founder Pavel Durov with aiding terrorist activity on July 29, according to CoinDesk reporting. The FSB placed Durov on an international wanted list, accusing the messaging platform of hosting channels, chats, and bots allegedly used by Ukrainian intelligence and extremist groups to coordinate sabotage, attacks, and cyber fraud inside Russia.
The charges against Durov carry a potential sentence of life imprisonment, per CoinDesk. The FSB did not confirm whether Russia has requested a formal Interpol Red Notice, which would constitute an international arrest warrant; the status of such a request remains unaddressed by authorities, according to CoinDesk.
The investigation opened in February after Russia began restricting Telegram's operations. The platform has been fined more than 100 million rubles, approximately $1.25 million, this year, primarily for failing to remove content prohibited under Russian law, according to CoinDesk.
Telegram operates as one of crypto's largest distribution platforms, hosting project communities, trading groups, and blockchain-based Mini Apps, according to CoinDesk. The platform is closely integrated with The Open Network, a blockchain whose native token was renamed from Toncoin to Gram in June. TON supports payments, tokenized assets, and Mini Apps inside Telegram, giving the network access to Telegram's more than 1 billion users, per CoinDesk.
Gram traded at $1.42 as of the report date, down roughly 2.4 percent over the prior 24 hours, according to CoinDesk. Earlier in July, Durov announced that Telegram would roll out a native, non-custodial Gram wallet to every Telegram app, per CoinDesk.
The bear case centers on unresolved enforcement mechanics. Durov remains at large, and the extent of Russia's ability to enforce charges outside its borders remains unclear. No official statement from Durov or Telegram's response to the charges has been published. The FSB has not disclosed the specific channels, chats, or bots cited in the investigation or the evidence supporting the allegations.
Russia's FSB charged Telegram founder Pavel Durov with aiding terrorism and placed him on an international wanted list for the platform's alleged failure to remove channels used by Ukrainian intelligence and extremist groups.
Watch for any Interpol action, Telegram's operational status in Russia and other jurisdictions, and whether the planned Gram wallet launch proceeds. If Durov is arrested or Telegram's services are disrupted globally, it would materially affect the distribution and settlement capacity of The Open Network and crypto trading infrastructure.
And that's the way it is.
Sources
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