Russia has charged Telegram founder Pavel Durov with aiding terrorism, a crime that could send him to prison for life. The charges come from an investigation that has already cost Telegram over 100 million rubles in fines this year.
The charge and its potential penalty
The charge of aiding terrorism is one of the most serious under Russian criminal law. If convicted, Durov faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. The specific allegations behind the charge have not been made public, but the case marks a sharp escalation in the state's pressure on the messaging platform.
The fines tied to the investigation
The same investigation that led to the terrorism charge has also produced significant financial penalties. Telegram has been hit with over 100 million rubles in fines this year alone. It is not clear whether the fines are directly linked to the conduct that gave rise to the charge, but they are part of the same probe.
What happens next
The case now moves to the Russian court system. A trial will determine Durov's guilt or innocence. No date has been set for a hearing, and Durov's legal team has not commented publicly. The investigation that generated the fines continues.
