The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) announced on Wednesday an international search warrant for Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of the messaging app Telegram. Durov is accused of "complicity in terrorism" by Russian authorities.
The FSB's statement indicates that this move is part of a criminal investigation into the alleged use of the platform by Ukrainian intelligence services to recruit young Russians for sabotage activities.
The specific allegation revolves around the Leo Match dating bot, which has been banned in Russia. According to the BBC, the FSB claims that Telegram refused to remove the bot, which was reportedly used by Ukrainian agents posing as young women to contact and subsequently blackmail Russian men.
The FSB reports that since July 2025, 46 individuals aged between 12 and 22 have been arrested in various regions of the country. These individuals are accused of attacking security forces and committing acts against energy and transport infrastructure after being recruited through the bot.
Durov, currently residing in France, had previously anticipated this legal assault. Earlier this year, he publicly accused Moscow of launching a criminal investigation against him, claiming that the authorities were fabricating reasons to restrict Telegram as part of an effort to "suppress the right to privacy and freedom of expression."
The arrest warrant comes at a time when Telegram occupies a precarious position for the Kremlin within the informational landscape of the war in Ukraine.
The Dual Role of Telegram in Russian Media
On one hand, the platform is favored by the so-called voenkory, pro-Kremlin military bloggers who disseminate propaganda supporting the "special military operation." On the other, Telegram hosts channels that freely report on Russian military defeats, share footage of Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian refineries and infrastructure, and express growing social discontent with the war and Vladimir Putin.
This dual role makes Telegram a structural threat to the Kremlin's control over information, which has been trying to subdue the platform for years without success. In 2018, Russia ordered a complete ban on Telegram after Durov refused to provide encryption keys to the FSB. However, the ban failed because users bypassed it with virtual private networks, and it was lifted in 2020.
Since then, Putin's government has promoted its own state messaging service, MAX, as an alternative and has implemented unprecedented digital restrictions affecting WhatsApp.
Durov, born in Russia and naturalized as a French citizen in 2021, is also facing unresolved legal proceedings in France. He was detained in August 2024 upon landing near Paris and charged with crimes related to organized crime, including the distribution of child sexual abuse material, drug trafficking, fraud, and refusing to cooperate with investigators.
The French judiciary initially imposed a bail of 5 million euros and barred him from leaving the country, with these restrictions gradually easing since 2025.
The international search warrant issued on Wednesday marks the most severe escalation to date in the conflict between the Kremlin and Russia's most widely used messaging platform, placing Durov at the center of two simultaneous legal battles in countries with radically different legal systems and motivations.
Key Questions About the Telegram Founder’s Legal Challenges
Why is Pavel Durov facing an international arrest warrant?
Pavel Durov is facing an international arrest warrant issued by the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) for accusations of "complicity in terrorism," linked to claims that Telegram was used by Ukrainian intelligence to recruit young Russians for sabotage activities.
What are the accusations against the Leo Match bot?
The Leo Match bot, banned in Russia, is accused of being used by Ukrainian agents to pose as young women and blackmail Russian men. The FSB claims Telegram refused to remove the bot, leading to the recruitment of individuals for sabotage activities.
How has Telegram challenged Russian government control?
Telegram serves dual purposes: it is a platform for pro-Kremlin military bloggers and also hosts channels critical of the Russian government, reporting freely on military defeats and public discontent, thus challenging the Kremlin's information control.
What legal issues is Durov facing in France?
In France, Pavel Durov is facing charges related to organized crime, including distribution of child sexual abuse material, drug trafficking, fraud, and lack of cooperation with investigators, stemming from his arrest near Paris in August 2024.