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Ahmed Barakat
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Russia’s FSB has accused Pavel Durov of being a terrorist leader and put him on the most wanted list. The move sent GRAM, formerly known as Toncoin, down in early trading and extending its recent weekly losses. The case marks a major escalation from the ongoing investigation in France, shifting the focus from platform control to terrorism.
The FSB said the charges stem from Telegram allegedly failing to remove material used by Ukrainian special services and terrorist or extremist groups to coordinate sabotage, mass murder, and cyber fraud inside Russia. Telegraph Director X The article responded by sending a picture of Durov making dirty hands but did not give a written statement.
Durov’s whereabouts are unknown. A May 16 Telegraph article placed him in Dubai, while a July 23 update indicated he was in Georgia and expected to arrive soon. He holds Emirati and French passports and has not lived in Russia for more than ten years.
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Immovable Masks Falling Into Great Threat Pavel Durov
The initial decline of GRAM seems to have paled in comparison to the market reaction to Durov’s arrest in 2024. After French authorities detained him at Paris Le Bourget airport in August 2024, Toncoin plummeted before the token was reset to GRAM, wiping billions of dollars off its market value. The small data shows that investors had already bought into the risk associated with the founders.
However, terrorist claims create a very different situation. Even without evidence released outside of Russia, the cases raise new concerns for banks, ramps, and exchanges that support GRAM. The restoration of 2026 revived the original logo of the brand and tied it more closely to Durov’s long-term vision, leaving little difference between the legal problems of the founder and the story of the brand.
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What Happens After GRAM and Telegraph
Unlike the French investigation, which focused on the Telegraph’s alleged collusion with conservatives, the Russian case is framed around state security and wartime crimes. Russia has put Durov on the world’s most wanted list, although other countries have not yet taken action. The move follows months of trouble, including reports that he was already under investigation for terrorism and an April subpoena issued to a former Russian address.
Political developments are adding further uncertainty. Russia has repeatedly tried to block Telegram since 2018 while continuing to use the platform for government communications. In April, Mr Durov said authorities appeared to blame him for defending legal protections for free speech and private correspondence, adding that he was proud to be guilty. He has not commented publicly on the latest charges.
GRAM’s current question is whether criminal charges are triggering restrictions on regulated exchanges or payment providers operating under AML and CFT laws. Telegram has been reported to have more than one user billion they can help raise children, but the rules of the founder can still be a source of headache. At the moment, the markets seem to be more focused on continued uncertainty than on a quick fix.
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