What Russia Says
State-run Russian outlets reported that investigators opened a criminal case, accusing Telegram and its founder Pavel Durov of facilitating terrorist activity. Officials cited figures they say come from the Federal Security Service. The headlines list hundreds of thousands of incidents on the platform since 2022 and hundreds of thousands of takedown requests allegedly ignored.
Durov’s Reply
Pavel Durov posted a short statement on his own Telegram channel saying Russia opened a case against him for aiding terrorism. He called the moves a pattern of fabricating pretexts to limit privacy and speech. He said a state afraid of its people is putting pressure on an app many Russians use.
Attacks Cited
The reports name several high profile incidents that investigators say were coordinated through Telegram. State media linked the platform to the 2024 Crocus City Hall massacre, the killing of Darya Dugina, and the death of General Igor Kirillov. Those are serious allegations that state outlets attribute to FSB work.
The Numbers
The FSB figures quoted are large. The claim of 153,000 crimes since 2022 and about 33,000 involving sabotage or terrorism sounds alarming. But numbers alone do not explain methodology. Are these unique investigations or mentions? Do they count routine violations the same as plotted attacks? The public gets big totals and few details.
Spin and Motive
Alongside the accusations runs a clear narrative. Officials say the app is a haven for radicals and foreign services. That rhetoric turns a tech platform into a geopolitical scapegoat. It also fits a longer pattern where regulators use security claims to tighten control over communications and data.
Risks for Tech
A criminal case against a founder raises the stakes for other tech companies and their leaders. Courts and regulators could demand more access, or firms could be blocked. For users the result is often less privacy and more government power to shape what platforms can do and what people can say.
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