Russia Charges Telegram Founder Durov With Facilitating Terrorism (bbc.com) 93
Russia has charged Telegram founder Pavel Durov with facilitating terrorism, alleging the platform was used by Ukrainian intelligence "to prepare and co-ordinate acts of sabotage and terror" inside Russia. An international arrest warrant has been issued for Durov, who currently lives in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where Telegram keeps its main office. The BBC reports: Shortly after the charge was announced, Telegram's account on X posted an image showing Durov holding up his middle finger. He has previously accused Russian authorities of "fabricating new pretexts to restrict Russians' access to Telegram."
[...] Multi-billionaire Durov, 41, has lived outside of Russia for many years and holds French and United Arab Emirates (UAE) passports. It is unclear whether other countries or authorities would comply with an arrest warrant issued by Russia.
Durov left Russia in 2014 after refusing to comply with government demands to shut down opposition communities on the platform. He had previously founded popular Russian social media company VKontakte - dubbed the "Facebook of Russia." In 2024, Durov was arrested and investigated by the French government in connection with criminal activity on the platform and a lack of cooperation with law enforcement. "He was allowed to go home months later, with the investigation continuing," notes the BBC.
[...] Multi-billionaire Durov, 41, has lived outside of Russia for many years and holds French and United Arab Emirates (UAE) passports. It is unclear whether other countries or authorities would comply with an arrest warrant issued by Russia.
Durov left Russia in 2014 after refusing to comply with government demands to shut down opposition communities on the platform. He had previously founded popular Russian social media company VKontakte - dubbed the "Facebook of Russia." In 2024, Durov was arrested and investigated by the French government in connection with criminal activity on the platform and a lack of cooperation with law enforcement. "He was allowed to go home months later, with the investigation continuing," notes the BBC.
Ukraine (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Ukraine (Score:4, Funny)
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Supporting what Putin and Russia have done with Crimea and then trying to take over the rest of Ukraine just shows that you are either a bot, or just trying to whitewash the invasion. It's probably time for Russia to be broken up to prevent this sort of thing from happening again.
Communists being communists ... (Score:1)
Ukraine wouldn't have resorted to "acts of sabotage and terrorism" [if] Russia hadn't invaded them.
You can’t expect communists not to pursue the communist end game, or the Soviet Union restoration short term goal. You don’t seem to understand that their ‘end game’ is so morally superior in their minds that invasions and such are rationalized. That in their minds Ukraine ‘attacked’ them first by going counterrevolutionary and wanting to align with the west.
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What has communism got to do it?
Putin. Restoration of the old Soviet system.
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More like restoration of the Russian Empire.
Good tsar, bad boyars.
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Americans hate communism. Putin is bad, so he is a communist. It all makes sense!
Putin was a KGB officer in the Soviet Union. That indicates he was quite the enthusiast for communism. And considers the demise of the communist system of the Soviet Union to be the greatest tragedy of the 20th century. Note the numerous armored vehicles invading Ukraine flying the communist flag of the Soviet Union.
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And all the swastikas make them Nazi too right...
It was more of the true believers shooting or otherwise murdering people who opposed the state. Like the KGB did for the communist state and the SS did for the german fascist state. Both KGB and SS were the true believers for their respective states, and who rationalized their brutality as service to their respective beloved states.
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What has communism got to do it?
Putin. Restoration of the old Soviet system.
what do either of those things have to do with Communism?
The Soviet Union was the pre-eminent Communist state for a while. Putin considers its demise the greatest tragedy of the 20th century.
Funny Twist (Score:3)
This is a funny twist. I had always assumed him and his company to be Russian agents.
I will admit that I do enjoy seeing his middle finger in Putin's eye.
How did he make multiple billions off of Telegram? I thought it was free.
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Well, he may or may not be facilitating terrorism, but he's definitely facilitating SPAM.
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How did he make multiple billions off of Telegram? I thought it was free.
It's free if you don't mind being constantly spammed by online romance scams. The ability to block everyone not on your contacts list is locked behind a paywall. It also can't send replies via CarPlay, but I'm not sure if paying fixes that annoyance, as I refuse to subscribe out of principle. I have this one friend who only uses Telegram, otherwise I'd uninstall this dumpster fire of a messaging app.
I'm also honestly kind of surprised our current regime hasn't tried banning Telegram, but I guess because
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This is a funny twist. I had always assumed him and his company to be Russian agents.
This COULD all be a ruse to combat that assumption.
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I had always assumed him and his company to be Russian agents.
i guess it's more complicated than that. i would assume he's a western agent now, considering events like his catch-and-release by french authorities, his residence and that photo. who knows! he could be a double agent! then again telegram has been (and is being) used by many different parties, from russian troops to ukranian terrorists to cia to pedophiles to cryptobros to activists to nazis to a big chunk of regular people. i use it as a source of real-time news and it's quite good at that.
I will admit that I do enjoy seeing his middle finger in Putin's eye.
yeah, cool. a b
Never ‘Out of reach" (Score:3)
ofc he has little to fear as long as he is out of reach
Like downtown London having a meal with your daughter at a public restaurant? Or just walking down a central London street?
Communists like Putin make a point of showing that there is no such things as ‘out of reach”.
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Dubai might have a different sort of security context than London.
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- the french authorities do have unfettered access to all of telegram messages (and hence possibly all of the EU spy agencies, maybe even the UK and US. Or maybe not, the french can be picky when asked to share their IP, see how building next-gen military tech together with germans tends to pan out...). They just don't make any high-profile catch ba
Communists killing communists is normal ... (Score:2)
This is a funny twist. I had always assumed him and his company to be Russian agents.
For the same of argument, lets assume Durov shares some pro-Soviet ideas with Putin. Communists killing communists is quite normal. It usually takes place after the external enemies are mostly killed, but killing fellow communists who are not ideologically identical to you, or who are not submissive to you, seems to be a pretty common thing when you look at history.
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This is a funny twist. I had always assumed him and his company to be Russian agents.
That doesn't protect one from being preyed upon by hungry windows.
This is no way refutes his being a Russian agent.
Perhaps he refused an additional request. Perhaps he failed to pay a kickback in appreciation for past support. Perhaps he knew too much.
(Telegram has a "premium" paid subscription level and ads, to answer that one)
So it's purely symbolic? (Score:1)
Unless a State in which he resides in agrees to extradite him for the charges (which... let's assume he's smart enough to avoid States friendly with Russia), then this is about as grandstanding as the term gets. Unsurprising given the turmoil Russia's going through lately with Ukraine knocking at their front door after all this baseless aggression.
Re:So it's purely symbolic? (Score:5, Informative)
Unless a State in which he resides in agrees to extradite him for the charges (which... let's assume he's smart enough to avoid States friendly with Russia), then this is about as grandstanding as the term gets.
Russia has assassinated former Russian citizens outside of Russia before, it would be unsurprising if they did it again.
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Russia has assassinated former Russian citizens outside of Russia before, it would be unsurprising if they did it again.
I suppose they could do that, but I don't know what it would accomplish. Telegram is already written and functional; murdering Durov wouldn't uninstall it anywhere. I suppose it might intimidate the next guy who is considering writing a secure messaging app, but I don't think Russia is playing that kind of decades-long game anymore. Their main goal now is short-term: figure out how survive the Ukraine debacle without getting strung up by their own citizenry.
Re:So it's purely symbolic? (Score:4, Informative)
Russia has assassinated former Russian citizens outside of Russia before, it would be unsurprising if they did it again.
I suppose they could do that, but I don't know what it would accomplish.
It demonstrates that enemies of the state are never beyond the reach of the state.
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Telegram is already written and functional; murdering Durov wouldn't uninstall it anywhere.
Presumably a new CEO would be put in place. It may be a good idea for that new CEO to learn about Russia's open requests about how to run the platforms. You know... for the demonstrated personal health reasons associated with the request.
If murdering people to send a message wasn't a thing which worked, there'd be virtually no deaths in the illicit drug industry.
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the current record holders for high profile assasinations abroad are israel and the us, in that order and far ahead of anyone else. just saying, you do you.
i hear you mumbling: "but, but, they're all republicans!!!!". oh, kid ...
Re: So it's purely symbolic? (Score:2, Troll)
Nice whataboutism and unsupported speculation, but do fuck off
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nice strawman. run the numbers on un special reports, freedomhouse, global assasinations monitor, heck, even wikipedia ... if these sources are any speculation it is clearly western "liberal" curated speculation. in the process you'll also discover that "x has assasinated x outside x before, it would be unsurprising if they did it again" holds actually true for a very long list of x, so that nonsensical statement is just an embarrassingly stupid attempt at being facetious, mr drinky loomer.
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Just because you were credulous of soviet-sponsored agit-prop doesn't make any of it true.
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soviet-sponsored! in 2026 ... that's some vintage brain kink, props to your delicate tastes, sir.
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what comitee? technically how?
Criminal Investigation Opened
February 2026
Decision-maker: Federal Security Service (FSB).
Official Summons Delivered
April 2026
Decision-maker: Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) / FSB.
Terrorism Facilitation Charges & International Arrest Warrant
July 29, 2026
Decision-maker: Federal Security Service (FSB) in coordination with Russian State Prosecutors.
unlike other orgs, the fsb reports directly to putin. i thought he was a wannabe imperialist now? is someone here living
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Technically even Stalin used the committees. That's why they called it Soviet.
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i'm not really sure what you are trying to say, but it's nevertheless ironic that you support it by bringing up a public hearing by the security council precisely at the timestamp where shoigu (the defense minister) briefs the council on the (western) ukranian's warcrimes on (eastern) ukranians, shelling them and leaving them without water and gas.
i'm going to go out on a limb: you are implying that putin is a dictator who hid behind institutional theatre (that you somehow identify as "soviet") to justify h
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i'm not really sure what you are trying to say, but it's nevertheless ironic
In Russian, the word "soviet" just means committee.
his theory about conventional deterrence and how that theoretical framework explains russia's invasion of ukraine in 2022
They're trying to make a bipolar world. Well if China doesn't enter the war in the next few months, then all that will go out the window as Iran gets rolled up followed by Russia. Putin should have focused on his economy if he wanted deterrence.
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In Russian, the word "soviet" just means committee.
i know. and committee is an anglo-french adaptation from latin meaning "entrust/coming together", with diffferent meanings over centuries. in long past decades "soviet" has acquited a very specific connotation that you are using now to describe current institutions in a way that makes no sense. it is my impression that this is to rescue that old narrative and clichés which have really no relation to a present reality that is somehow uncomfortable to confront.
They're trying to make a bipolar world.
the world is already multipolar, and the wh
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i doubt china will enter any war whatsoever if they can avoid it.
Why would you doubt it? China has never been reticent to enter war in any way, and certainly has been provoking for the last couple decades.
china actually wants worldwide stability (ergo peace)
In the Chinese worldview, peace can only come though the sword of the emperor.
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Why would you doubt it?
because it is not in their interest, war is costly and china extends its influence through trade and agreements, that's what belt and road is all about. indeed, western powers are trying to disrupt that which creates friction and potential flash points, but china has shown lately great restraint in dealing with those disruptions. that's not to say that a military response is not in the cards, but china is definitely not a belligerent power.
i will avoid comparisions with the us and the whole gang of western
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tibet? that's about the only war in the last century where china proactively sought military action
China has attacked most of its neighbors, but can you possibly justify their ongoing military incursion into Bhutan? Do you think it was to protect national security?
you don't know fuck all about "chinese worldview". i probably don't either,
You have a very strong emotional opinion for an admitted ignoramus. If you calm down, I'll be happy to discuss this point with you rationally, otherwise I'll just leave you stewing in your emotional ignorance.
because it is not in their interest, war is costly and china extends its influence through trade and agreements,
China sees taking Taiwan as in their interests, and indeed, controlling the entire first island chain to be in their interests.
Current
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can you possibly justify their ongoing military incursion into Bhutan?
i could try if there were a "ongoing military incursion into bhutan", but there isn't any. you could talk about encroachment.
now can you possibly justify the us/israel's military action in ... ok, forget about it.
You have a very strong emotional opinion for an admitted ignoramus.
i know that i know nothing - plato.
can you now describe my "very strong emotional opinion"? just for fun?
China sees taking Taiwan as in their interests, and indeed,
tawian is china, even the us admits this.
controlling the entire first island chain to be in their interests.
as would be mine if i were china. how would you like to have chinese military bases in the caribbean or greenland?
The US weapon supply is depleted,
wonder why that would be the case ...
but it will be rebuilt, stronger than before.
th
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i could try if there were a "ongoing military incursion into bhutan", but there isn't any. you could talk about encroachment.
You are a liar.
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You are a liar.
you're welcome to disprove any claim i make. you ofc can also have a fit when reality doesn't suit your blind beliefs.
one option leads to increase in knowledge and understanding, the other to dangerous willful ignorance. suit yourself.
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can you provide at least one of those widely circulating reports about an "ongoing military incursion into bhutan"?
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the current record holders for high profile assasinations abroad are israel and the us, in that order and far ahead of anyone else.
Excepts those targets of the US and Israel have blood on their hands, not printing press ink.
Blood on their hands, not printing press ink (Score:2)
the current record holders for high profile assasinations abroad are israel and the us, in that order and far ahead of anyone else. just saying.
Excepts those targets of the US and Israel have blood on their hands, not printing press ink.
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that whitewashing was already pathetic the first time around, or was that to keep up with the slashdottical duplication tradition?
you know what taints hands with blood? genocide.
who would still get surprised by die-hard usraelians (and westerners in general) cheerfully endorsing targeted assasinations, terrorist attacks, mass killings, mass starvation etc as the fully justified routine work of god but get all riled up when someone has de gall and the utter disrespect of fighting back and, god forbid, one of
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you know what taints hands with blood? genocide.
False claims of genocide are the only pathetic comments here.
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Re: So it's purely symbolic? (Score:2)
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Really? I thought only the US did that
I am in no way here to defend any of the shitty stuff my country has done. It's a long list, and I complain about much of it myself, frequently. It's the least I can do (and also TBH the most I have done, aside from some purchasing decisions)
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I think they have bigger problems right now.
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1) If you're a prosecution or judge in charge of topic X, you issue warrants because it's your job. There's no reason to refuse preparing the paperwork or refusing signing it the topic is raised to your attention. Whether the warrant has a hope to be served is not your part of the problem. Justice systems everywhere issue warrants in hopeless cases, like against drug lords in hiding, or the ICC issuing a warrant against Putin.
2) It is not symbolic, it has consequences:
* Durov is persona non grata within Rus
Arrest ? (Score:3)
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Nothing sinister, just a friendly visit at a local tea shop.
They are not wrong... (Score:3)
Re: They are not wrong... (Score:1)
Ukraine goes out of its way to not target civilians. That is the opposite of terrorism.
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Correct, now re-read the OP's post.
International Arrest Warrant (Score:2)
Don't they have a large backlog [wikipedia.org] of arrest warrants to work through?
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I have seen someone advocating for LGBTQ+ (Score:2)
Dead man walking (Score:1)
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But only if the explosion threw him off a balcony.
There are certain niceties to be observed - and Putin likes leaving his signature.
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If he travels, but Dubai is pretty safe if you have enough money and can tolerate the place long-term.
Better not fly over Belarus (Score:2)
or other Russian Allies.
We all know what Belarus did then don't we?
Russia could pull a Mossad-style extradition as well.
Durov's planes are a target too (Score:2)
Just ask former Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world... [bbc.com]
Good luck with that. (Score:1)
Somehow I doubt that the Emirates are going to extradite a guy to a country that is currently moving drone and missile components from China to Iran where they are used to attack targets in Dubai.
Remember when France did the same thing to Durov? (Score:3)
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No one remembers this. This is Slashdot. We lack the ability to read to TFS.
But to your point: Countries clearly don't like the app allows truly encrypted messaging with no backdoors.
At no point did France request back doors or access to messages. The guy was arrested because the platform failed to co-operate with lawful orders they could execute without ever compromising encryption.
Alexander Graham Bell (Score:2)
Imagine all the crime the Bell System was used to perpetrate!
So many Russians use Telegram, including front-line soldiers.
There's more to this story that we don't know.
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My money is on the face in Putie's toast warning him the guy knew too much.
I wish him well but⦠(Score:1)