Pavel Durov Arrested in Paris: Telegram Founder Faces Fraud and Cyberbullying Charges

Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of Telegram, was arrested at Bourget airport near Paris, accused of various offences related to his messaging app. According to local sources, Durov was travelling on his private jet from Azerbaijan when he was detained. A French arrest warrant was issued as part of an ongoing investigation.

Charges Against Telegram CEO Pavel Durov

France’s OFMIN, an agency focused on preventing violence against minors, has accused Durov of fraud, drug trafficking, cyberbullying, and organized crime, as reported by the AFP news agency, citing anonymous officials. The Franco-Russian billionaire is also being charged with not acting against the misuse of Telegram, which could lead to his indictment.

Concerns Over Telegram’s Moderation

French media outlets TF1 TV and BFM TV have reported that the investigation is centered on Telegram’s lack of moderation, which authorities believe has allowed criminal activities to thrive. An investigator told AFP they were surprised that Durov entered France despite knowing there was a warrant for his arrest, saying, “enough of Telegram’s impunity.”

Russian Response to the Arrest

In response, the Russian embassy in France has demanded consular access to Durov and insisted on protecting his rights, as reported by TASS, the Russian state news agency. The embassy claimed that France had not engaged in dialogue about Durov’s situation and stated that Russian diplomats had been in contact with his lawyer.

Telegram’s Role in the Russia-Ukraine War

Telegram, founded by Durov and his brother in 2013, is known for its encryption features and has nearly one billion users. Durov fled Russia in 2014, seeking a base for his company in places like Berlin and San Francisco. Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Telegram has become a primary channel for unfiltered war content, heavily used by officials from both Russia and Ukraine, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Due to its rising popularity, several European countries, including France, have scrutinized the app over security and data breach concerns.

Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia’s representative to international organizations in Vienna, accused France of moving towards a “totalitarian” state. He warned that public figures are not safe visiting such countries. Meanwhile, Russian bloggers have called for protests outside French embassies globally. Ben Aris, editor-in-chief of bne IntelliNews, mentioned that Durov also faces issues in Russia for refusing to grant the Kremlin access to Telegram’s encrypted messages, which led to the app being blocked in Russia in 2018. Despite these challenges, tech mogul Elon Musk criticized Durov’s arrest, stating, “It’s 2030 in Europe, and you’re being executed for liking a meme.” Telegram and French authorities have yet to comment on the situation, according to Reuters.

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