Pavel Durov, the Russian-born founder of Telegram, was arrested at Le Bourget Airport in Paris on Saturday evening, following a warrant issued by French authorities.
Sources told the AFP news agency that the Franco-Russian tech billionaire would appear in court after being detained by police at Le Bourget airport. French investigators had issued a warrant for Durov’s arrest as part of an inquiry into allegations of fraud, drug trafficking, organised crime, promotion of terrorism and cyberbullying.
Durov is accused of failing to take action to curb the criminal use of his platform and was stopped after arriving in Paris from Baku on his private jet on Saturday night. “Enough of Telegram’s impunity,” said one investigator who expressed surprise that Durov flew to Paris knowing he was a wanted man.
Arrest Sparks International Tensions
Pavel Durov’s arrest has led to tensions between Russia and France, with the Russian embassy in Paris criticizing the French government’s lack of cooperation. The Russian government has expressed concern over Durov’s detention, while Telegram has defended its moderation practices, stating that the platform complies with EU laws.
Telegram’s Controversial Role
Telegram, which Durov founded in 2013, has grown into a major platform with 950 million active users. It has become a critical tool for communication, especially in conflict zones like Ukraine, but has also faced criticism for being a haven for extremists and conspiracy theorists due to its strong encryption and minimal content moderation.
