Russia Opens Terrorism Investigation Into Telegram Founder Pavel Durov

The Russian government has opened a terrorism-related investigation into Telegram founder Pavel Durov, targeting the messaging platform that has become a critical communication tool for opposition voices, war correspondents, and Ukrainian forces during the ongoing conflict. The Kremlin's move against Durov follows his arrest in France in 2024 and signals Moscow's escalating effort to bring the platform under state control. Telegram has over 900 million users and is the most-used messaging app in Russia, Ukraine, and much of Central Asia.