Telegram founder Pavel Durov arrested in France over serious crimes

Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of the Telegram messenger, was arrested at Le Bourget Airport in France shortly after arriving by private jet from Azerbaijan, reports the French news service TF1, citing sources. The arrest was based on a warrant issued by the French authorities.

The detention of the 39-year-old billionaire took place on August 24 at around 2 p.m. Eastern Time. Durov, traveling with a woman and his bodyguard, was leaving the private jet when the arrest occurred.

Officers of the French Air Transport Gendarmerie carried out the operation, acting on a French warrant issued by the National Criminal Police Office.

Durov, listed in the registry of wanted persons, was under investigation for alleged complicity in crimes such as drug trafficking, pedophile crimes, fraud, and money laundering.

The French prosecutor's office believes that the lack of moderation on Telegram and the reluctance to cooperate with law enforcement make Durov responsible for crimes committed on the platform.

Durov, who is considered one of the leading defenders of user privacy and human rights such as freedom of speech and assembly, views Telegram as a neutral platform that does not engage in geopolitics. In an interview earlier this year, he stated that his application will remain outside the political game.

Durov's fortune is estimated at around 15 billion dollars. French authorities emphasize that social media companies, including Telegram, must make greater efforts to prevent their services from being used by extremists for criminal purposes.

Durov, born in Russia, currently lives in Dubai, where his company is headquartered. He left Russia in 2014 after a conflict with the authorities over user data protection. He holds citizenship of both France and the United Arab Emirates. Telegram has gained significance as a tool supporting pro-democratic movements, especially in Iran and Russia.