Pavel Durov, the billionaire founder and CEO of the Telegram messaging app, was arrested at Bourget airport outside Paris on Saturday evening. TF1 TV and BFM TV have reported this citing unnamed sources. According to the information, Durov was traveling to Azerbaijan in his private jet.
He was arrested following an arrest warrant as part of a police investigation that focused on the lack of moderation on Telegram. Police believe the lack of moderation allowed criminal activity to continue unhindered on the messaging app.
left Russia in 2014
Dubai-based Telegram was founded by Russian-born Durov, who left Russia in 2014 after refusing to bow to government demands to stifle opposition voices on his VK social media platform, which he has since sold.
Let us tell you that Telegram, which has influence in Russia, Ukraine and former Soviet countries, is one of the most prominent social media platforms after Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok and WeChat. Its target is to reach one billion users next year.
The leading platform for content related to the Russia-Ukraine war
Telegram has not yet responded to this. There has been no comment from the French Home Ministry and police either. Since Russia’s attack on Ukraine in 2022, Telegram has become the most prominent platform for ‘unfiltered content’ from both sides regarding the politics surrounding the war.
The governments of Russia and Ukraine use it
The messaging app is also the main means of communication for Ukrainian President Zelensky and his officials. The Kremlin and the Russian government also use it to share their news. Telegram has become one of the few platforms where content related to the Russian war can be obtained.
