Russia has charged Telegram’s founder Pavel Durov with facilitating terrorism over allegations the messaging app has been used for recruitment by Ukrainian secret services.

As a result, the billionaire founder of Telegram, has now placed on an international wanted list.

Russia’s Federal Security Service, also known as the FSB, alleges that Telegram failed to remove channels, chats and bots that were used by Ukrainian intelligence agencies and extremist groups to organize terrorist attacks and cybercrime inside Russia.

Officials also claimed a popular Telegram dating chatbot, Daivinchik/Leo, was used by Ukrainian operatives posing as young women to recruit Russians for inside information.

Durov, 41, who now lives in Dubai and holds French and Emirati citizenship, has denied any wrongdoing. Earlier this year, he accused Moscow of inventing criminal allegations as part of an effort to suppress privacy and free speech by restricting Telegram.

The charges come as Russia continues tightening control over the internet following 2022 full invasion of Ukraine. Telegram joins WhatsApp and other foreign platforms that have been banned while promoting its state-backed messaging app, MAX.

Durov, who has a net worth of up to $15 billion, also remain under investigation in France following his 2024 arrest over allegations that Telegram failed to control criminal activity on the platform and is facing a lawsuit in Australia over its alleged failure to remove “pro-terror” material, including video of the Christchurch shootings.

If convicted in Russia, he could spend the rest of his life in prison.