MOSCOW, Feb 24 (Reuters) – The Kremlin said on Tuesday that the authorities had recorded a large number of violations by the Telegram messenger app and were taking appropriate steps in response to what it cast as the app’s unwillingness to cooperate with Russia.
Russia has launched an investigation into Telegram founder Pavel Durov as part of a criminal case on the “facilitation of terrorist activities”, state-run media reported earlier on Tuesday, citing the Federal Security Service (FSB).
Telegram, which is widely used in Russia and across the former Soviet Union, has in recent days denied a host of allegations by Russia that the app is a haven for criminal activity and compromised by both Western and Ukrainian intelligence services.
(Reporting by Gleb Stolyarov; Writing by Lucy PapachristouEditing by Andrew Osborn)
