Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) alleged the popular messaging platform was being used by Ukrainian spies to organise attacks on the country.<\/p>\n
The FSB accused Telegram of failing to remove “numerous channels, chats and bots” which are “actively used by\u00a0Ukrainian<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0intelligence agencies, terrorist, and extremist organisations to prepare and coordinate acts of sabotage and terrorism, mass murder, and cyberfraud” in Russia.<\/p>\n It said the alleged activity had resulted in “numerous human casualties”.<\/p>\n There has been no immediate comment from Mr Durov or Telegram.<\/p>\n Mr Durov is said to be in Dubai, which has friendly relations with Moscow, the Reuters news agency reported.<\/p>\n Telegram has become a critical source of information on Russia’s war in Ukraine and is used by officials in Moscow and Kyiv.<\/p>\n Some analysts have called the app “a virtual battlefield” for the conflict.<\/p>\n Russia has repeatedly tried to restrict Telegram’s use in recent years, promoting its own state-backed MAX messenger service, and has carried out a wider campaign to cut off access to foreign tech platforms and tighten control over the internet.<\/p>\n However, state bodies including the Kremlin and the Russian defence ministry have continued to post to Telegram on a daily basis.<\/p>\n The Russian announcement comes after an official state newspaper reported in February that Mr Durov was under investigation in a terrorism-related case.<\/p>\n In April, Mr Durov posted on Telegram that a summons had been delivered to an apartment in Russia where he lived 20 years ago.<\/p>\n In 2024, Mr Durov was arrested by French authorities over allegations Telegram had failed to adequately counter criminal activity on the platform and did not sufficiently cooperate with law enforcement requests.<\/p>\n Mr Durov, who was later allowed to leave the country while the investigations continued, denies any wrongdoing.<\/p>\n Source: \u00a0![\"Sky](\"http:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/sky-news-logo-1.png\"){kind=logo}
<\/a> news.sky.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"