The investigation by Important Stories claims that key components of Telegram's server infrastructure are controlled by GNM, a company registered in Antigua and Barbuda. According to the outlet, its owner is Russian citizen Vladimir Vedeneyev. He is said to have been granted privileged access to servers in the US, signed contracts on behalf of Telegram, and oversaw equipment processing user traffic. Vedeneyev is also linked to Russian companies Globalnet and Electrontelecom, which, according to the investigators, supply infrastructure for surveillance in the interests of the FSB.
Traffic Routes and Device Data
According to the publication, Telegram's network traffic passes through IP addresses associated with Russian government agencies. Device identifiers are transmitted without encryption, which experts call a "significant risk for surveillance." Furthermore, leaked data from Russia's border service allegedly shows that since 2014 Durov has entered the country more than 50 times, although he publicly stated that he had left and had been abroad ever since. The outlet also writes that Telegram's headquarters in Dubai has not been operational for more than three years.
Financial Position and Company Response
According to the investigation, after the collapse of the blockchain project TON, which was banned by US regulators, Durov still owed investors about $2 billion. Among the creditors are named individuals linked to Russian oligarchs and intelligence services.
In response to a request from Deutsche Welle, Telegram stated that none of its service providers has access to confidential infrastructure or user data. "All servers belong to Telegram and are managed by its employees," the statement said. The company emphasized that it maintains contracts with many providers worldwide, has never handed over private messages to third parties, and has not allowed encryption to be compromised.
In a previous interview with American journalist Tucker Carlson, Durov defended Telegram's privacy standards, claiming that the app does not collect users' personal data and conducts regular audits. He also noted that the company has found ways to monetize without infringing on user rights, distancing itself from giants like Meta.
In August 2024, Durov was briefly detained in France on charges including refusal to cooperate with official data requests. He was later released on bail, and in spring 2025, following a court ruling, he left France and went to the UAE.
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