Pavel Durov, the CEO and co-founder of Telegram, was arrested at Bourget airport near Paris on Saturday evening, according to reports from French media.
Story Summary:
- Telegram CEO Pavel Durov was arrested in Paris while travelling from Azerbaijan.
- He is expected to appear in court on Sunday, with details of the allegations still emerging.
- Durov is a Russia-born billionaire and co-founder of the Telegram messaging app.
More details surface about Pavel Durov arrest
According to reports, Durov was travelling aboard his private jet from Azerbaijan when he was apprehended by authorities around 20:00 local time.
The arrest reportedly follows an existing warrant issued in France, though the specific allegations have not yet been fully disclosed.
Durov, a well-known figure in the tech world, is expected to appear in court on Sunday, where more information about the charges may be revealed.
Telegram has not yet issued an official response to the arrest, and Russia’s embassy in France has stated that it is taking immediate steps to clarify the situation, although no formal request for assistance has been made by Durov’s team.
Pavel Durov, 39, is a Russia-born entrepreneur who co-founded the Telegram messaging app with his brother Nikolai in 2013.
Telegram has since grown to have approximately 900 million active users, known for its strong encryption and privacy features.
Before Telegram, Durov founded VKontakte (VK), Russia’s largest social networking site, but was forced to sell the platform in 2014 after refusing to comply with Russian government demands to shut down opposition groups.
Durov, who now resides in Dubai and holds dual citizenship in France and the United Arab Emirates, has built a reputation as a staunch advocate for privacy and free speech.
His refusal to cooperate with government demands has made him a controversial figure, particularly in Russia. According to Forbes, Durov’s net worth is estimated at $15.5 billion.
