Russia launches terror probe into Telegram chief Pavel Durov – POLITICO

Russian authorities have launched a criminal investigation into Telegram founder Pavel Durov over allegations his messaging platform facilitated terrorist activity, sharply escalating the Kremlin’s long-running standoff with the tech billionaire.

State-run Rossiyskaya Gazeta and Kremlin-friendly tabloid Komsomolskaya Pravda reported Tuesday that investigators are examining whether Telegram was used to coordinate attacks, including the 2024 Crocus City Hall massacre, as well as the killings of Darya Dugina — daughter of nationalist ideologue Aleksandr Dugin — and General Igor Kirillov.

Both outlets, citing Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), claimed Telegram has been used in more than 153,000 crimes since 2022, including roughly 33,000 cases involving sabotage, terrorism or extremism. The reports also accused Durov of ignoring more than 150,000 takedown requests from Russia’s media regulator Roskomnadzor.