Paris: Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of the popular messaging app Telegram, was arrested in Paris over the weekend amid allegations that his platform is being used for illicit activities, including drug trafficking and the distribution of child sexual abuse material.
Durov, a Russian-born entrepreneur with citizenship in France, Russia, St. Kitts and Nevis, and the United Arab Emirates, was taken into custody at Paris-Le Bourget Airport after arriving from Azerbaijan. The Paris prosecutor’s office confirmed that Durov’s arrest is part of a judicial inquiry involving 12 alleged criminal violations. These include accusations of complicity in distributing illegal content, fraud, and refusing to cooperate with investigators.
In response to the arrest, Telegram issued a statement asserting that the company complies with EU laws and that its content moderation practices are in line with industry standards. The platform emphasized that Durov has nothing to hide and regularly travels throughout Europe.
The arrest has sparked a range of reactions. The Kremlin has refrained from commenting on the specifics of the case, with spokesperson Dmitry Peskov noting that the charges against Durov have yet to be officially announced. Meanwhile, some Russian officials have criticized the arrest as politically motivated, highlighting the West’s perceived double standard on freedom of speech. This criticism is notable given Russia’s previous attempts to block Telegram, which were eventually abandoned in 2020.
Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of X (formerly Twitter) and a self-proclaimed “free speech absolutist,” has voiced his support for Durov, posting the hashtag “#freePavel” on social media.
Telegram, which boasts nearly a billion users worldwide, stated in its post that it is awaiting a swift resolution to the situation and reiterated its commitment to its users.
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