Russia's main domestic security agency said Wednesday that Pavel Durov, the founder and owner of Telegram, has been charged with aiding terrorism. Officials also said Durov has been placed on an international wanted list.
Russian authorities said the case includes accusations that Durov assisted Ukraine's intelligence services. The brief report available did not provide detailed evidence or explain the full basis for the allegations.
The move puts the head of one of the world's best-known messaging platforms at the center of a major cross-border legal and security dispute. Because Telegram is widely used internationally, the case is likely to attract attention far beyond Russia.
The available account did not include a response from Durov and did not spell out the next legal steps. It said only that Russian security officials had filed the charges and issued the international wanted notice.
