Russian state media: Telegram founder Durov investigated for 'aiding terrorist activities'

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - The actions of Telegram co-founder Pavel Durov are being investigated over criminal charges of aiding terrorist activities, Russian state-run media reported on Tuesday.

Based on materials from the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), state daily Rossiyskaya Gazeta claimed that since 2022, the number of registered crimes committed using the messaging app has topped 153,000.

It added that 33,000 were crimes of a sabotage-terrorist and extremist nature, including organizing explosions, arson attacks on military enlistment offices, and murders.

"Thanks to the work of Russia’s FSB, it was possible to prevent 475 terrorist attacks which were prepared through Telegram," the daily said.

Among the crimes prevented were reportedly 61 school mass shootings planned by teenagers.

The article also said the March 2024 terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall in the Moscow Oblast was coordinated through the app.

"The victims of digital permissiveness were Russian citizens, bloggers, and journalists, including Darya Dugina and Maxim Fomin, as well as nine high-ranking military officials, including Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov. The enemy, using Telegram analytics, collected data about their relatives, travel routes, and daily routines," it said.

Additionally, about 700 direct threats to family members of Russian military personnel have been recorded, it reported.

At the same time, over the past few years, Russia’s state media regulator Roskomnadzor has sent more than 150,000 requests to Durov's team through official contacts demanding the removal of illegal content of various kinds, but they were ignored, it said.