Pavel Durov, the CEO of Telegram, was arrested at Le Bourget airport in Paris after arriving from Baku, Azerbaijan. The 39-year-old Franco-Russian billionaire is facing serious charges, including fraud, drug trafficking, cyberbullying, organized crime, and the promotion of terrorism. These charges stem from accusations that Durov failed to curb the criminal use of his popular messaging platform, Telegram.
France’s Office for the Prevention of Violence Against Minors (OFMIN) issued the arrest warrant as part of a preliminary investigation into these alleged offences. Durov is expected to appear in court on Sunday, with a potential 20-year prison sentence looming if convicted.
The arrest has sparked international tensions, with Russia accusing France of “refusing to cooperate” after Russian authorities were denied consular access to Durov. The Russian Embassy in Paris has demanded an explanation from French officials, highlighting the diplomatic strain between the two countries.
The incident has also drawn attention from high-profile figures such as Elon Musk, who publicly supported Durov with the hashtag #FreePavel, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who emphasized the urgent need to protect free speech.
Telegram, based in Dubai, has positioned itself as a privacy-focused alternative to US-owned platforms, with Durov previously stating that the app would never disclose user information. However, its commitment to privacy has also led to criticism, as the platform has been accused of enabling the spread of false information, neo-Nazi content, and other illegal activities.
In a rare interview with Tucker Carlson earlier this year, Durov discussed his decision to establish Telegram in Dubai, praising its business environment and neutrality. With over 900 million active users, Telegram remains a significant player in the global messaging app market, even as it faces increasing scrutiny from Western governments for its role in disseminating illegal content.
