The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) has formally charged Pavel Durov, founder of Telegram, with aiding terrorism. The accusation centers on the platform’s alleged failure to remove channels and bots used by Ukrainian intelligence and extremist groups to coordinate sabotage and cyber fraud within Russia. This development intensifies an ongoing investigation that has already imposed fines exceeding 100 million rubles on Telegram this year.
Details of the Charges Against Durov
The FSB claims that Telegram hosted content facilitating terrorist activities, leading to charges that carry a potential life sentence for Durov. Although the agency has placed him on an international wanted list, it remains unclear if an Interpol Red Notice has been requested. The case dates back to February when Russian authorities started restricting Telegram’s operations. Telegram was fined approximately $1.25 million for not removing prohibited content under Russian law.
Impact on Telegram and its Crypto Ecosystem
Telegram is a significant player in the crypto world, serving as a hub for project communities, trading groups, blockchain-based Mini Apps, and bots. It is closely linked with The Open Network (TON), a blockchain platform whose native token recently rebranded from Toncoin to Gram. TON integrates payment solutions and tokenized assets within Telegram’s massive user base of over a billion people. Gram’s price has dipped about 2.4% in the past day to $1.42. Despite legal pressures, Telegram is moving ahead with plans to launch a native, non-custodial Gram wallet.
