Update: Telegram Founder Pavel Durov Arrested in Paris, Detention Extended
French judicial authorities have extended the detention of Pavel Durov, the Russian-born founder of Telegram, following his arrest at a Paris airport over serious allegations tied to his messaging platform.
Durov, 39, was apprehended on Saturday at Le Bourget airport after arriving from Baku on his private jet. His arrest came after French investigators issued a warrant in connection with an ongoing investigation into charges of fraud, drug trafficking, organized crime, promotion of terrorism, and cyberbullying. He is accused of failing to take sufficient measures to prevent the criminal misuse of Telegram. One investigator expressed disbelief that Durov traveled to Paris, despite being aware of the warrant, stating, “Enough of Telegram’s impunity.”
In response, Telegram issued a statement on Sunday evening, defending its compliance with EU regulations, including the Digital Services Act. “Telegram abides by EU laws, including the Digital Services Act – its moderation is within industry standards and constantly improving,” the company stated. “Telegram’s CEO Pavel Durov has nothing to hide and travels frequently in Europe. It is absurd to claim that a platform or its owner is responsible for abuse of that platform. We’re awaiting a prompt resolution of this situation.”
The investigating magistrate handling the case has decided to extend Durov’s detention beyond Sunday night. This phase of questioning could last up to 96 hours, after which the judge will determine whether to release him or press charges and remand him into further custody.
The Russian government has accused France of refusing to cooperate following Durov’s arrest. The Russian embassy in Paris has requested access to Durov and has criticized France for allegedly “avoiding engagement” on the matter.
Durov, who fled Russia in 2014 after defying Kremlin orders to shut down opposition groups on VK, a social network he founded at 22, has since focused on developing Telegram. The app, created with his brother Nikolai in 2013, has grown to become one of the world’s most popular messaging platforms, boasting 950 million active monthly users.
Despite its popularity, Telegram has faced criticism for becoming a major source of misinformation, particularly about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Durov, who now resides in Dubai and holds French and UAE citizenship, has praised Dubai for its business environment and “neutrality” while criticizing the pressure western governments place on platforms to moderate content.
Following Durov’s arrest, Dmitry Medvedev, former Russian president and current deputy head of Russia’s security council, suggested that Durov had miscalculated by fleeing Russia, stating, “For all our common enemies now, he is Russian – and therefore unpredictable and dangerous.”
Tucker Carlson, a rightwing US commentator and conspiracy theorist, echoed these sentiments, describing Durov as “a living warning to any platform owner who refuses to censor the truth at the behest of governments and intel agencies.” In a recent interview with Carlson, Durov emphasized that Telegram should remain a “neutral platform” and not engage in geopolitics, highlighting that users value the app’s independence, privacy, and freedom.