Russian lawyer Vladimir Zherebenkov stated that Telegram founder Pavel Durov could face a life sentence if found guilty, according to infohub.kz.
In an interview with TASS, Zherebenkov noted that the article on aiding terrorist activities carries a penalty of up to life imprisonment. Additionally, Durov may face charges under other articles of the Russian Criminal Code during the investigation.
According to the lawyer, Durov could be arrested in absentia in Russia. This procedure is necessary for extradition: a Russian court issues an in-absentia arrest warrant, after which law enforcement seeks his extradition, including through Interpol.
The charges against the Telegram founder under the article on aiding terrorism were announced on July 29, 2026. In April, Durov said he received a summons in Russia, where he lived about 20 years ago. On February 24, Russian media reported that a criminal case had been opened against Durov on suspicion of aiding terrorism.
Later, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that law enforcement agencies are taking measures they deem appropriate and that Telegram's administration does not cooperate with Russian authorities. Commenting on the case, Durov noted that the authorities invent new excuses daily to restrict Russians' access to Telegram, seeking to suppress the right to privacy and freedom of speech.