As Russia launches criminal probe against Telegram CEO, the app's critics come to its defence
Feb 27, 2026 - 10:00

Pavel Durov, the billionaire CEO of the messaging app Telegram, has confirmed Russian state media reports that the country's Federal Security Service is investigating him for "aiding terrorism." Access Now — a digital rights non-profit that has been vocally critical of Telegram's security and privacy in the past — says this probe is nothing more than a pretext to crack down on free speech.