Pavel Durov, the co-founder and CEO of Telegram, has been arrested and detained in France, according to reports from French media. The Paris prosecutor's office has stated that an official statement regarding the arrest will be issued on Monday.
Durov was reportedly apprehended at Le Bourget Airport near Paris as he arrived on his private jet from Azerbaijan. The arrest is linked to an ongoing investigation into allegations that Durov has failed to address illegal activities on Telegram, including drug trafficking, terrorism promotion, and fraud.
The French newspaper Le Monde has reported that the investigation also involves claims that Durov has not cooperated with authorities on issues such as cyberscams and the distribution of child pornography on the platform.
In response to the arrest, the Russian Embassy in France has requested an explanation from French authorities and has called for Durov’s rights to be upheld, including ensuring consular access.
Durov, a 39-year-old billionaire originally from Russia, holds dual citizenship in France and the United Arab Emirates. He oversees Telegram from Dubai, where the app has grown to serve nearly 1 billion users worldwide. Known as “Russia’s Mark Zuckerberg,” Durov founded VKontakte, a popular social network in Russia, in 2007. He later co-founded Telegram with his brother Nikolai in 2013 and left Russia the following year due to a dispute over user data.
Telegram, favored by cryptocurrency enthusiasts and users seeking unfiltered news on conflicts such as those in Ukraine and Gaza, is known for its lenient content moderation policies. This approach has led to concerns about the spread of misinformation, extremism, and illegal activities on the platform.
Despite speculation about possible connections to the Kremlin, Durov has dismissed such claims as inaccurate. In March, he spoke to the Financial Times for the first time since 2017, addressing some of these issues.
Durov’s public persona is marked by his frequent social media posts showcasing his muscular physique and affinity for black attire, reminiscent of the character Neo from The Matrix. While Telegram’s content is often shared across other networks, where it is subject to stricter moderation, Durov and his supporters view Telegram as a bastion of free speech.
