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Tagged: Durov

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  Bear Witness 7:47 am on August 8, 2026 Permalink | 🔗Copy | Reply
  Tags: Durov, telegram ( 3 )   

  Russian Man Could Face Life in Prison Over Paid Telegram Reactions

  A man in Nizhny Tagil has reportedly been placed in pre-trial detention after spending just 1,148.29 rubles (about $14) on paid Telegram reactions.

  According to Russian media reports, Ilya Pylaev used Telegram Stars to leave paid reactions on posts by a person authorities consider connected to a terrorist organization.

  Investigators are reportedly treating the payments as financing terrorist activity. If convicted under the most serious provisions of the charge, Pylaev could potentially face life imprisonment.

  From Telegram Stars to possible life behind bars: apparently not every reaction needs a reaction.
   

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  Bear Witness 5:26 pm on July 30, 2026 Permalink | 🔗Copy | Reply
  Tags: Durov, technology ( 5 ), telegram ( 3 )   

  

  Pavel Durov Responds to Russia’s Terrorist Designation With Guns, Dynamite and a VPN Song Russian officials appear increasingly confused about who gets to ban whom from using the internet.

  Telegram founder Pavel Durov said Russia had designated him a terrorist because he refused to comply with demands for mass surveillance and censorship on the messaging platform.

  Russia’s financial-monitoring agency, Rosfinmonitoring, added Durov to its official list of extremists and terrorists after the Federal Security Service accused him of facilitating terrorist activity and announced plans to place him on an international wanted list.

  Russian authorities claim Telegram failed to remove channels, chats and bots allegedly used by Ukrainian intelligence services and extremist groups to coordinate sabotage and attacks. Durov, however, has presented the case as retaliation for Telegram’s refusal to give the Russian government greater control over the platform.

  Meanwhile, Durov reportedly added six assault-rifle gifts and three sticks of dynamite…

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  Bear Witness 10:12 am on July 29, 2026 Permalink | 🔗Copy | Reply
  Tags: apps, Durov, politics ( 2 ), technology ( 5 ), telegram ( 3 )   

  

  Pavel Durov Faces Growing Pressure in Russia Pressure on Telegram founder Pavel Durov continues to escalate in Russia.

  Russian authorities have reportedly opened a criminal case accusing Durov of facilitating terrorist activity. Russian state media later reported that he could face life imprisonment if convicted under terrorism-related charges.

  According to Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB), the case centers on the "DaVinchik/Leo" dating bot on Telegram. Investigators allege that Ukrainian intelligence services used the bot to contact young Russians while posing as women. Those conversations allegedly led to further contact from people claiming to be law enforcement officers, who then intimidated the victims and persuaded them to carry out acts of arson and sabotage under the guise of "security checks."

  Several Russian politicians have since weighed in. State Duma deputy Oleg Matveychev said Durov should decide "whether he is Russian or something else."

  "His ancestors fought in the Great Patriotic War…

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