Pavel Durov, Telegram CEO, reportedly arrested in France
Pavel Durov, the billionaire, founder and CEO of the popular messaging app Telegram, was reportedly arrested on Saturday evening at the Bourget airport near Paris, France. According to French media outlet TF1 TV and BFM TV, Durov was taken into custody shortly after stepping off his private jet following a flight from Azerbaijan.
The French media outlets cited unidentified sources, stating that Durov had been the target of an arrest warrant in France, part of a preliminary police investigation. The investigation reportedly focuses on the lack of moderators on Telegram, a situation that authorities believe has allowed criminal activities to persist unchecked on the platform.
Durov, 39, faces a possible indictment on Sunday, with French authorities expected to provide more details as the situation develops. As of now, neither Telegram nor the French Interior Ministry and police have issued official comments.
The news of Durov's alleged arrest has already had an impact on the cryptocurrency market, with Toncoin (TON), which was developed by Durov and his brother Nikolai, plummeting over 10% after the reports surfaced.
Former kickboxer Andrew Tate revealed the news on X (formerly Twitter), claiming that Durov was detained for "failing to censor the truth on his application". Tate also speculated about potential charges, including "support for terrorism, drug trafficking, complicity in crimes, mass fraud, money laundering, concealment, pedophile content, sanctions evasion, and more".
Durov founded Telegram in 2013 with his brother, after leaving Russia in 2014 due to his refusal to comply with government demands to shut down opposition communities on his VKontakte social media platform. Telegram has since grown to nearly one billion users and is especially influential in Russia, Ukraine, and other former Soviet republics.
The platform, known for its encrypted messaging capabilities, has become a significant source of unfiltered content regarding the Russia-Ukraine war, often used by both sides to disseminate information. This has brought increased scrutiny from European governments, including France, over concerns about security and data breaches.
The Russian Foreign Ministry announced that its embassy in Paris is working to clarify the situation surrounding Durov's arrest, while Russian politicians have criticized France for what they describe as dictatorial actions.
The arrest has sparked reactions from various global figures, including Elon Musk and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who expressed concerns over free speech and the broader implications of Durov's detention. Additionally, several Russian bloggers have urged people to protest at French embassies worldwide on Sunday at noon.
As this is a developing story, more updates are expected in the coming days regarding the charges Durov may face and the broader impact on Telegram and its users.
Note: This article has been updated to include Pavel Durov's arrest is part of a preliminary police investigation focusing on the lack of moderators on Telegram, which allegedly allowed criminal activities to persist.
