Russian tech outlet 'Kod Durova' rebrands as 'Kod.ru' after Pavel Durov added to extremist list

The Russian technology outlet Kod Durova has announced it is now operating under the name Kod.ru. The change was unveiled in a statement on its website and social media channels. The editors explained that the publication began as a small project dedicated to covering Pavel Durov’s initiatives and their ecosystem, but over time its focus and audience expanded. As a result, a rebrand had been under consideration well before recent developments, they said. The team stressed that Durov has no personal connection to the outlet, and keeping his name in the title eventually became misleading, causing readers to draw incorrect associations. While acknowledging that this week’s events accelerated the process, the editors also noted that a project of this scale could not have been completed overnight. The outlet now operates as Kod.ru with a shorter name and will continue to report on Durov’s projects, including Telegram.

The move follows the Russian Federal Security Service’s accusation on July 29 that Durov aided terrorism, and the Federal Financial Monitoring Service’s decision on July 30 to add him to the country’s list of terrorists and extremists. In response, Russian online retailers began removing books about Durov and related merchandise from sale. Additionally, the Moscow clinic AltraVita, which offers free IVF using Durov’s donor sperm, has hidden the procedure’s page on its website, though the clinic assured patients that the procedure remains available.