Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of the popular messaging app Telegram, was arrested by French authorities at Le Bourget airport north of Paris. The 39-year-old technology entrepreneur was detained after arriving on his private jet, according to French media reports.
Officials have stated that Durov’s arrest was based on an arrest warrant in connection with crimes related to the Telegram platform. The exact nature of those crimes has not yet been disclosed.
The Russian embassy in France responded promptly to the news. Russian state news agency TASS reported that diplomatic representatives would take “immediate steps” to gather more information about the situation.
Durov, whose net worth is estimated by Forbes at $15.5 billion, was reportedly travelling on his private jet from Azerbaijan when he was arrested at around 8 p.m. local time. The arrest is said to be related to an ongoing preliminary police investigation in France.
According to the reports, the investigation is focusing on Telegram’s alleged lack of content moderation. French authorities reportedly believe that this situation has allowed criminal activity to flourish unhindered on the platform.
Telegram, with nearly 900 million active users, has played an important role in global communications, particularly in Russia, Ukraine and the former Soviet republics. The platform has gained prominence as a source of unfiltered information about the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and is used by both government officials and citizens.
Durov, who was born in Russia but now lives in Dubai, has previously stated that Telegram should remain a “neutral platform” and not a “player in geopolitics” despite pressure from some governments.
The news of Durov’s alleged arrest sparked rapid reactions. The Russian embassy in France told the state news agency TASS that it was taking “immediate” steps to clarify the situation. Meanwhile, some Russian politicians and diplomats criticized France’s actions. Calls for protests in front of French embassies around the world circulated on social media.
So far, Telegram has not responded to requests for comment and French authorities, including the Interior Ministry and police, have declined to comment on the reports.
