Founder of Telegram Arrested at Paris Airport

Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of the Telegram messaging app, was arrested at Bourget airport near Paris on Saturday evening.

According to local sources, Durov, 39, had arrived on a private jet from Azerbaijan. A French arrest warrant was issued for him as part of a preliminary investigation concerning various offences.

The allegations against Durov involve serious charges, including fraud, drug trafficking, cyberbullying, and organized crime. Reports indicate that he is also accused of failing to take sufficient measures to prevent the harmful use of the Telegram platform.

French media have stated that Durov may face an indictment on Sunday. Investigators from France’s National Anti-Fraud Office are reportedly focusing on the lack of moderators on the Telegram app, raising concerns that this absence allows criminal activities to flourish.

French officials were reportedly surprised by Durov’s decision to enter France despite an existing arrest warrant, with one investigator commenting on the issue of “Telegram’s impunity.”

In response to the situation, the Russian embassy in France has requested consular access to Durov, asserting the importance of ensuring his rights. The embassy has indicated that France has not engaged significantly concerning Durov’s circumstances.

Durov created Telegram in 2013, and the app has since gained a massive user base, nearing one billion. The messaging platform has been frequently scrutinized in Europe due to concerns regarding security and data breaches.

Notably, after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Telegram emerged as a critical source of unfiltered and at times graphic content regarding the conflict, being heavily utilized by officials from both Russia and Ukraine.

Elon Musk, a prominent tech mogul, criticized Durov’s arrest, commenting on the state of civil liberties in Europe. The Telegram company has yet to issue a public statement regarding Durov’s current legal predicament.