Telegram CEO Pavel Durov Arrested at French Airport

Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of the popular messaging app Telegram, was arrested by French authorities at Le Bourget Airport near Paris on Saturday evening. Durov, who was traveling aboard his private jet from Azerbaijan, was detained under a warrant issued by French officials.

The arrest is reportedly linked to allegations that Telegram has been used for various illegal activities, including money laundering, drug trafficking, and the sharing of content related to the sexu@l exploitation of minors¹². French media outlets have highlighted that the platform’s lack of content moderation has allowed these activities to go unchecked.

Durov, 39, has faced criticism from Western governments for Telegram’s role in facilitating unregulated communication. The platform, known for its strong encryption, has been a significant source of unfiltered information, particularly in regions like Russia and Ukraine.

The Russian government has expressed outrage over Durov’s arrest, with officials calling on Western non-governmental organizations to demand his release. Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, questioned whether international human rights organizations would intervene as they did when Russia attempted to block Telegram in 2018.

As the investigation continues, Durov faces potential indictment, with French authorities remaining tight-lipped about the specifics of the case.