Afghanistan, April 23 -- Pavel Durov, founder of Telegram, said he has received a summons from Russia naming him as a defendant in a criminal case, according to a post he published Wednesday.
Durov said the document was sent to an old address in Russia where he lived about 20 years ago, adding that authorities had formally identified him as a suspect in the case.
He suggested the move could be linked to his long-standing stance on free speech and privacy, saying he was "proud" to face accusations for defending constitutional communication rights.
Russian authorities have in recent months stepped up pressure on Telegram, accusing the platform of being used for "terrorist" activities-claims the company has repeatedly denied.
The standoff ...