‘Why refer to Telegram as Russia-based?’ Founder Pavel Durov distances app from Russia

Telegram CEO Pavel Durov has appealed to journalists to stop linking the messaging app with Russia.

“Not sure why some media would refer to Telegram as ‘Russia-based’,” he wrote on Twitter. “We have no servers, developers, companies, bank accounts or offices in that country.”

The message was reportedly linked to an article published on Thursday by British newspaper The Financial Times under the headline “Russian Telegram App Plans to Join Blockchain Mania,” The Village news site reported. The word “Russian” has since been removed from the online version of the article.

Durov was born in St Petersburg, but currently resides in London and Dubai. Since leaving Russia, he has also bought citizenship for the islands of St Kitts and Nevis in the West Indies.