Russia charges Telegram’s Pavel Durov with terrorism, GRAM token slides

Russia’s FSB charged Telegram founder Pavel Durov with aiding terrorist activity and placed him on an international wanted list Wednesday, sending the GRAM token lower in early trading.

Telegram terrorism allegations are now dominating headlines as Russia dramatically escalates its long-running dispute with Durov.

Unlike the ongoing legal proceedings in France, which have focused on content moderation and criminal activity conducted through the messaging platform, Moscow’s latest accusations centre on alleged facilitation of terrorist activities.

The case marks one of the most significant legal challenges the Telegram founder has faced.

Telegram terrorism allegations trigger new market uncertainty

Russia’s FSB announced that Durov had been formally charged with facilitating terrorist activities and placed on an international wanted list.

According to Russian authorities, the allegations stem from Telegram’s alleged failure to remove content that officials claim was used by Ukrainian special services and terrorist or extremist groups to organise sabotage operations, cyber fraud, and attacks within Russian territory.

The FSB has not publicly released evidence supporting the allegations, and the accusations remain unproven in court.

Telegram has not issued a formal written response. Instead, the company’s official X account published an image of Durov making an obscene gesture without providing further explanation.

The latest telegram terrorism allegations have quickly become a major source of uncertainty for both Telegram users and cryptocurrency investors.

GRAM falls as founder risk returns to centre stage

The immediate market reaction saw GRAM decline, although losses remained significantly smaller than those recorded during Durov’s arrest in France in August 2024.

At that time, French authorities detained Durov at Paris-Le Bourget Airport as part of an investigation into alleged criminal activity conducted through Telegram.

The arrest triggered a sharp sell-off in Toncoin before the asset was later rebranded as GRAM, wiping billions from its market value.

The relatively muted response to the latest telegram terrorism allegations suggests many investors had already priced founder-related legal risks into the token.

Nevertheless, analysts warn that continued legal uncertainty surrounding Durov could continue weighing on investor confidence throughout the remainder of the year.

Telegram terrorism allegations highlight regulatory pressure

The telegram terrorism allegations also arrive amid growing international pressure on encrypted messaging platforms.

Governments across Europe and elsewhere have increasingly demanded stronger moderation policies to combat terrorism, organised crime, child exploitation, and cyber fraud.

Technology companies continue to argue that balancing privacy with public safety remains one of the industry’s most difficult challenges.

Russia has maintained a complicated relationship with Telegram for years. Although authorities attempted to block the platform in 2018, numerous Russian government agencies have continued using Telegram for official communications.

Earlier this year, Durov criticised what he described as government efforts to undermine constitutional protections for free speech and private correspondence.

“I am proud to be guilty of defending freedom of speech and private correspondence,” Durov wrote in April, responding to earlier legal scrutiny.

He has not publicly commented on the latest telegram terrorism allegations announced by Russian authorities.

Where is Pavel Durov?

Questions surrounding Durov’s whereabouts continue to fuel speculation.

A Telegram post published on May 16 suggested the founder was in Dubai, where he has spent much of the past several years. Another update posted on July 23 indicated he was travelling in Georgia and expected to return soon.

Durov holds French and Emirati citizenship and has not lived in Russia for more than a decade.

The uncertainty surrounding his location has only intensified attention surrounding the ongoing telegram terrorism allegations.

Crypto industry watches compliance risks closely

For cryptocurrency markets, the biggest concern may not be the immediate price decline but the broader compliance implications.

Industry observers note that exchanges, payment providers, and financial institutions operating under Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter-Terrorist Financing (CFT) regulations could face increased scrutiny if the telegram terrorism allegations lead to additional international sanctions or regulatory actions.

Despite the legal uncertainty, Telegram remains one of the world’s largest messaging platforms, with more than one billion monthly active users according to figures previously shared by the company.

The Open Network ecosystem continues expanding its blockchain infrastructure, but analysts caution that persistent telegram terrorism allegations could generate ongoing headline risk for GRAM until greater legal clarity emerges.

For now, investors appear less concerned about an immediate resolution than about how long the legal battle surrounding Pavel Durov—and the continuing telegram terrorism allegations—may overshadow Telegram’s broader digital asset ambitions.