GRAM, the token linked to the TON ecosystem, dropped close to 3% after Russia’s Federal Security Service accused Telegram founder Pavel Durov of supporting terrorist activities and issued an international wanted notice against him.
The FSB's case alleges Telegram neglected to remove content used by Ukrainian special forces, terrorist groups, and extremists planning sabotage and cyber attacks within Russia. Russian authorities claim a popular Telegram chatbot named Daivinchik or Leo, often used for dating in Russia, was exploited to recruit at least 46 Russians aged between 12 and 22 for attacks targeting law enforcement and infrastructure.
In response, Telegram’s official X account posted an image mocking Durov, though no detailed comments from Durov or Telegram have emerged yet. This legal action intensifies Moscow’s long-standing struggle with Telegram, which remains widely accessed in Russia despite official restrictions, often through VPNs. State agencies continue to share updates on Telegram daily, even as the platform plays a key role in information exchange during the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Durov, who was briefly detained in France earlier in 2024 over unrelated content moderation disputes, denies any wrongdoing. Born in Russia but holding Emirati and French passports, he previously sold his stake in VKontakte after pressure from Russian authorities. For further context on Russia’s tightening grip on crypto and tech platforms, see Russia’s efforts to regulate its digital market in recent policy drafts.
This content is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.
