Telegram founder detained in Paris; Russian officials delete messages

Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, a messaging app that enables encrypted communication, was detained at Paris Le Bourget airport on Saturday evening. Russian authorities have ordered officials and some influential businessmen to delete official correspondence from Telegram.

The Russian Telegram channel Baza, linked to security forces, reported on Sunday, August 25 that authorities directed officials and major businessmen to delete official Telegram correspondence following Durov's detention in France.

According to the independent portal Meduza, such an order was received by employees of some law enforcement agencies, the president's administration, the Russian government, and high-ranking employees of the Russian Ministry of Defense.

At the same time, some officials interviewed by Baza reported that they had not been asked to delete correspondence from Telegram. However, they added that they expect such instructions on August 26-27.

Additionally, Russian propagandist Margarita Simonyan wrote on Telegram that "anyone who is used to using the messenger for confidential conversations or correspondence should immediately delete that correspondence and never do it again."

Pavel Durov was detained on August 24 at a Paris airport, where he arrived by private jet. The French judicial police issued the arrest warrant.

Durov created the Telegram app 11 years ago. Earlier, he attempted to launch "the Russian Facebook," but his efforts—according to PAP—were allegedly thwarted by Vladimir Putin's allies. He subsequently left Russia, obtaining citizenship in Saint Kitts and Nevis.

His company, Telegram Group Inc., is registered in the British Virgin Islands. Meanwhile, the mobile app is issued by Telegram FZ-LLC, a company registered in the United Arab Emirates. According to Forbes, Durov's fortune is estimated at $15.1 billion.