Pavel Durov: A Sad Spectacle - A State That Is Afraid Of Its Own People
- 24.02.2026, 19:16
The Telegram founder spoke out about the criminal case against him in Russia.
The founder of Telegram Pavel Durov has commented on the criminal case against him in Russia as part of a criminal case on promoting terrorist activity.
"Russia has opened a criminal case against me on charges of 'promoting terrorism'. Every day the authorities invent new pretexts to restrict Russians' access to Telegram, seeking to suppress the right to privacy and freedom of speech," the businessman wrote.
He called it a sad sight "a state that is afraid of its own people."
Reminder, Telegram founder Pavel Durov is suspected in Russia of "promoting terrorism" (part 1.1 of Article 205.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation), writes Rossiyskaya Gazeta with reference to the FSB.
Russian law enforcers believe that since 2022 more than 153 thousand crimes have been committed through the messenger, including 33 with a "subversive-terrorist and extremist orientation." It is also reported that the terrorist attack in Moscow's Crocus City Hall in March 2024 was coordinated through Telegram.
Roskomnadzor sent Durov's team more than 150,000 appeals demanding the removal of illegal content, which allegedly went unanswered.
It was reported earlier that the Russian authorities decided to "begin work to slow down the work of the messenger Telegram." RBC sources said that Roskomnadzor would start restricting Telegram's work as early as February 10.
The Baza Telegram channel, which is close to law enforcement agencies, cited sources as saying that Telegram would be completely blocked in Russia on April 1.
February 10, Pavel Durov commented on the restriction of access to the messenger in Russia. According to the businessman, Russia is restricting access to Telegram in an attempt to force its citizens to "switch to a state application created for surveillance and political censorship." He did not specify which application he was referring to, but appeared to be referring to Max, the "national messenger" actively promoted by the Russian authorities.
"Eight years ago, Iran tried the same strategy - and failed. It banned Telegram under far-fetched pretexts in an attempt to forcibly shift people to a state-run alternative. Despite the ban, most Iranians still use Telegram, bypassing censorship, and prefer it to controlled apps," Durov said.
In August 2024, the Telegram founder was detained in France, where he flew in his private jet.
The entrepreneur was charged with complicity in the distribution of child pornography, complicity in drug trafficking, refusal to provide information requested by authorized agencies and other crimes. Shortly after his arrest, Durov was released under judicial supervision with an obligation to report to the police. In November 2025, French investigators completely lifted his travel ban from the country.