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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