Telegram CEO Pavel Durov Detained in France; See Reasons
Pavel Durov, the billionaire founder and CEO of Telegram, was reportedly apprehended on Saturday evening at Bourget Airport near Paris, as confirmed by French news sources TF1 and BFM TV. Durov was traveling from Azerbaijan on his private jet when he was detained based on a French warrant connected to an ongoing probe into Telegram’s suspected involvement in various criminal activities, including terrorism, drug trafficking, and fraud, according to Reuters.
French authorities allege that Telegram has been used as a platform for a range of illegal activities without sufficient moderation or cooperation with law enforcement. This incident comes amid increasing scrutiny of Telegram’s encrypted messaging service, which, while safeguarding user privacy, has faced criticism for potentially enabling criminal misuse.
Upon his arrival in France, the warrant for Durov’s arrest was immediately executed. Sources close to the investigation disclosed that Durov, accompanied by a bodyguard and another individual, was taken into custody by the Air Transport Gendarmerie.
The arrest was conducted under a French search warrant issued by the judicial police, targeting Durov for his alleged involvement in facilitating these criminal activities through Telegram. Despite the high-profile nature of the arrest, Telegram has not yet released a public statement. Similarly, French authorities, including the Interior Ministry and police, have refrained from commenting on the situation.
The National Anti-Fraud Office (ONAF) is reportedly leading the investigation.
