Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram and a Russian national with multiple citizenships, including French, UAE, and Saint Kitts and Nevis, was detained by French authorities upon his arrival at Paris-Le Bourget Airport.
Local broadcaster LCI reported that Durov’s private jet arrived in Paris from Azerbaijan around 8 p.m. local time on Saturday.
The 39-year-old tech entrepreneur, who gained French citizenship in 2021, was reportedly accompanied by a woman and his bodyguard at the time of his arrest, according to RT.
LCI indicated that the French authorities issued the arrest warrant as part of an ongoing preliminary investigation. The French government suspects that Telegram’s insufficient content moderation, encryption features, and alleged lack of cooperation with law enforcement could implicate Durov in serious offenses, including drug trafficking, pedophilia, and fraud.
Broadcaster TF1 noted that Durov is expected to appear before a judge tonight, where he could potentially face up to 20 years in prison.
As a French citizen, Durov may also be accused of violating European Union sanctions against Russia due to his connections in the country.
The arrest warrant issued for Durov is valid only within France.
A source close to the investigation told TF1-LCI, “He made a mistake tonight. We don’t know why, but in any case, he’s in custody.”
Telegram, which was launched in 2013, currently boasts over 950 million active monthly users. Durov, originally from St. Petersburg, Russia, has primarily resided in the UAE since the mid-2010s, acquiring both French and Emirati citizenship in 2021.
In a recent interview with American journalist and political commentator Tucker Carlson, Durov discussed his conflicts with the Russian government and the pressures he faced from the U.S. government, which had asked him to install a surveillance “backdoor” in Telegram—a request he declined.
Elon Musk, the owner of X, also reacted to the news of Durov’s arrest, commenting, “POV: It’s 2030 in Europe and you’re being executed for liking a meme.”
For more updates, join our WhatsApp channel here.