Russia has labeled Telegram founder Pavel Durov a ‘terrorist,’ but he wants to know why Moscow now calls the Taliban a ‘respected partner’
Telegram founder Pavel Durov responded with a meme after Russia’s Federal Financial Monitoring Service, known as Rosfinmonitoring, added him to its registry of terrorists and extremists.
The meme’s two panels show Durov, labeled “an accomplice of terrorists,” alongside Taliban representatives shaking hands with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, labeled “respected partners.”
Rosfinmonitoring added Durov to the registry on July 30, a day after Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) announced a criminal case against him on charges of aiding terrorist activity. The charge falls under Part 1.1 of Article 205.1 of Russia’s Criminal Code.
After the FSB’s announcement, Durov temporarily changed his channel’s avatar to a photo depicting himself as a terrorist. Telegram’s official X account posted a photo of Durov giving the middle finger.
The Taliban had been on Russia’s registry of terrorists and extremists since 2003. Russian authorities began establishing official contacts with the group shortly after they seized power in Afghanistan in 2021, even though the group was still formally classified as a terrorist organization. Russia’s Supreme Court removed the Taliban from the registry in April 2025.
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