Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) has formally charged Pavel Durov, the founder and chief executive of the encrypted messaging app Telegram, with aiding terrorism. The charge stems from Telegram's alleged failure to remove content used by Ukrainian intelligence and terrorist groups to plan attacks, according to the FSB. Durov, a Russian-born entrepreneur who fled the country in 2014 amid disputes over internet regulation, has long faced scrutiny from Moscow over Telegram's encryption and refusal to hand over user data. The FSB claims that Telegram has not cooperated with Russian authorities to block channels and messages that facilitate terrorist activities, including those linked to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. This is not the first time Russia has targeted Telegram; in 2018, a Russian court ordered the blocking of Telegram after it refused to provide decryption keys to the FSB, a ban that was only partially enforced. Durov, who now resides in Dubai and holds citizenship of several countries, has consistently defended Telegram's privacy policies, arguing that encryption protects users from surveillance. The charges could carry a lengthy prison sentence if Durov is ever brought to trial in Russia, but he remains outside the country's jurisdiction. The case highlights ongoing tensions between Russian authorities and tech companies over content moderation and national security. Both Al Jazeera and Sky News reported the development, noting that the FSB's statement emphasizes Telegram's role in enabling communication by groups Moscow designates as terrorist.