Kremlin says the Telegram messaging app has violated the law many times

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.