Soon after the charges were announced, Telegram's official account on X posted an image of Durov making an obscene gesture.

Pavel Durov, the Telegram founder, has been charged with terrorism in an escalating feud between the Kremlin and the Russia-born billionaire.

Pavel Durov, the billionaire founder and CEO of the Telegram messaging app, has repeatedly run into trouble with both the Kremlin and Western officials as he cast himself as a champion of free speech.

Russia charged Pavel Durov, the founder, owner and CEO of the messaging app Telegram, with aiding terrorism and put him on an international wanted list, the country’s main domestic security agency said Wednesday.

Russia charged Pavel Durov with helping terrorists two days after the Kremlin confirmed it was still talking to Telegram.

The Kremlin has been struggling to curtail the Russian-born billionaire’s app as Ukraine strikes deeper into Russia.

Telegram founder Pavel Durov breaks his silence after Russia branded him a ’terrorist’ for allegedly failing to moderate the messaging app.

Russia on Wednesday charged Telegram founder Pavel Durov with aiding terrorism – before the messaging app fired back at the accusations by sharing a photo of the billionaire giving the middle finger.

The eSafety Commission will allege Telegram neglected its legal obligations when it allowed videos, including of the Christchurch mosque massacre, to remain on the platform.