Pavel Durov, the billionaire CEO of Telegram, was arrested Saturday evening at Le Bourget Airport near Paris.
Failed to Modereate Illegal Content
The 39-year-old founder of the popular messaging app was taken into custody as he disembarked from his private jet, arriving from Azerbaijan, according to Ziare.
Telegram, a Dubai-based platform with 900 million active users, is particularly influential in Russia, Ukraine, and other former Soviet states. It has become a vital communication tool in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian officials alike using the platform to disseminate information.
Durov, who also holds French citizenship, was detained under a French arrest warrant linked to a preliminary police investigation.
Authorities accuse him of failing to moderate illegal content on Telegram, facilitating criminal activities such as money laundering, drug trafficking, and the sharing of pedophilic material. Investigators argue that Durov’s inaction made him complicit in these crimes.
Telegram Should Remain Neutral
This arrest marks a significant moment in a broader effort by European authorities to combat criminal use of encrypted messaging services. Durov, whose net worth is estimated at $15.5 billion by Forbes, has previously resisted government pressure, stating that Telegram should remain a neutral platform, not a geopolitical player.
Russian officials have condemned the arrest, with some accusing France of authoritarianism. Meanwhile, Russian bloggers are calling for protests at French embassies worldwide. Durov is expected to face serious charges, with investigators confident he will be placed in pretrial detention due to the severity of the allegations and the risk of him fleeing.
