At the turn of 2025–2026, writer Nikolai V. Kononov released two books about Pavel Durov. The Russian-language sequel is Durov Code 2, while the English-language book, The Populist, revises the earlier biography and adds new material.
In an interview with Sorin Brut, Kononov said he returned to Durov 14 years later because an entire era had changed. In his view, Durov reflects a time marked by a rightward shift and new forms of populism. The author added that Durov’s arrest on August 24, 2024 also prompted the project: after that, he reread their correspondence, waited for Durov’s release, and conducted a two-day interview with him.
Kononov argues that his first book was written during a brief age of techno-optimism, when social networks were associated with equality, self-organization, and broader opportunity. In his assessment, that utopian moment has ended: the algorithms of major platforms deepened division, created bubbles, and turned the internet into a space of dependency and political polarization.
How the author describes Durov
Among Durov’s defining traits, Kononov highlighted a strong sense of exceptionalism, a desire to control his own life, and an ambition to influence large-scale change. At the same time, he said Durov is not seeking power over nations but has consistently defended an expansive idea of freedom of speech and private correspondence.
“You cannot deny Durov’s consistency,” Kononov said, explaining Telegram’s resilience through the combination of a strong product and its founder’s personal stance.
The author called Durov a “crypto-populist,” meaning a figure who combines security and a sense of shelter with direct personal outreach to a mass audience. Speaking about Telegram’s future in Russia, Kononov suggested the platform remains difficult to displace because it is used not only by private citizens but also by companies, government agencies, mayors, and governors.