Telegram Founder Pavel Durov Arrested in France Over Criminal Activity Allegations

Pavel Durov, the creator of Telegram, was detained at Paris-Le Bourget Airport after arriving from Azerbaijan, according to French media reports.

French authorities had issued an arrest warrant against Durov, accusing him of facilitating criminal activities on his encrypted messaging app. The charges he faces include complicity in drug trafficking, crimes against children, and fraud. His arrest stems from allegations that Telegram failed to adequately moderate illegal content and that Durov did not cooperate with law enforcement. Sources suggest that he may be placed in pre-trial detention.

The incident highlights ongoing concerns about Telegram’s role in enabling unregulated communication, particularly among Russian speakers.

The app has become a critical platform for sharing information about the war in Ukraine, with reports indicating that the Russian military also uses it for communication. Any significant changes to Telegram’s policies could have far-reaching consequences for the flow of information related to the conflict.

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Russian officials, including Deputy State Duma Speaker Vladislav Davankov, have criticized Durov’s arrest, suggesting it may be politically motivated. They argue that the detention could be an attempt to gain access to the personal data of Telegram users.

Durov, who became a naturalized French citizen in 2021, has previously faced pressure from Russian authorities for refusing to share user data from his earlier venture, VKontakte. Currently based in Dubai, Durov has continued to defend Telegram’s commitment to privacy, even as the platform faces mounting scrutiny from governments worldwide.

Alexander Stefanov