Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of the popular messaging app Telegram, was detained at Bourget Airport near Paris on Sunday. The arrest follows allegations linked to his platform, which has been a focal point of a French investigation.
Durov, 39, was arriving from Azerbaijan aboard his private jet when French authorities executed an arrest warrant. The warrant stems from a preliminary investigation conducted by OFMIN, France’s agency for preventing violence against minors.
The charges against Durov include fraud, drug trafficking, cyberbullying, and organised crime, with accusations also pointing to his failure to address the misuse of Telegram.
French media reports indicate that the investigation is centred on Telegram’s moderation issues, which police believe have enabled unchecked criminal activity on the app. The situation reportedly surprised investigators, who were taken aback by Durov’s arrival in France despite the existing warrant.
The Russian embassy in France has called for consular access to Durov, asserting that his rights must be protected. According to Russian state news agency TASS, the embassy has criticised France for its lack of engagement on the matter and is in touch with Durov’s legal team.
Telegram, founded by Durov and his brother in 2013, is renowned for its robust encryption features and has attracted nearly a billion users globally. The app gained significant traction during the Russia-Ukraine conflict, serving as a major channel for unfiltered and sometimes graphic content from both sides.
Its use by key figures, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian officials, has only increased scrutiny from various governments concerned about security and data breaches.
In response to Durov’s arrest, Russian representatives have accused France of adopting a “totalitarian” stance. Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia’s representative to international organisations, warned that such actions could endanger individuals involved in the international information sphere. Meanwhile, several Russian bloggers have urged protests outside French embassies worldwide.
In addition, Elon Musk, the tech billionaire and owner of X (formerly Twitter), criticised the arrest, remarking, “It’s 2030 in Europe, and you’re being executed for liking a meme.”
