Pavel Durov, the billionaire founder and CEO of Telegram, was arrested at Le Bourget airport in Paris on Saturday night.
The arrest follows an investigation by France’s Office for the Prevention of Violence Against Minors (OFMIN), which has accused Durov of failing to prevent criminal activities on his encrypted messaging platform.
Durov, 39, who holds both French and Russian citizenship, was detained upon his arrival from Baku, Azerbaijan.
He is set to appear in court on Sunday, where he will face allegations related to fraud, drug trafficking, cyberbullying, organized crime, and the promotion of terrorism through Telegram.
The arrest has led to tensions between France and Russia, with Russian authorities criticizing France for not granting them access to Durov and “refusing to cooperate” on the matter. Russia’s embassy in Paris has demanded an explanation and consular access, expressing concern over the treatment of the Telegram CEO.
In a show of support, businessman Elon Musk and former U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. took to social media to advocate for Durov’s release, with Musk using the hashtag #FreePavel and Kennedy emphasizing the importance of free speech.
Telegram, which has positioned itself as a privacy-focused alternative to U.S.-based social media platforms, has faced criticism for its lack of moderation.
The app, based in Dubai, has more than 900 million active users and has been accused of facilitating the spread of illegal content, including neo-Nazi, paedophilic, conspiratorial, and terrorist material.
Durov’s court appearance is highly anticipated, as it could have significant implications for the future of Telegram and the broader debate over encryption, privacy, and platform responsibility.
