MOSCOW, July 29. /TASS/. The criminal charges brought against Telegram co-founder Pavel Durov don't mean that Russia is going to ban the messenger, a lawyer told TASS in an interviewed.

"The situation for ordinary citizens has not changed. They can freely download the Telegram app on their smartphones, register an account, exchange messages or follow official channels. Pavel Durov facing charges does not mean his messenger will be banned," Timur Chanyshev, who heads the Advocate Premium bar association, explained.

While Telegram channels can facilitate criminal activity, say, by spreading calls for terrorism, recruiting attackers or collecting funds for terrorists, having an account or creating a channel does not facilitate terrorism, he added.

News emerged earlier on Wednesday that Durov had been charged with facilitating terrorist activities and that an international warrant for his arrest has been issued.