Pavel Durov, the CEO of Telegram, has been arrested in France. The 39-year-old was taken into custody on Saturday evening at Le Bourget Airport, just outside Paris, after arriving on his private jet. The arrest reportedly stems from a warrant issued in France related to an ongoing police investigation.
The investigation, as initially reported by Reuters and later confirmed by French broadcasters TF1 TV and BFM TV, centers on allegations that Telegram’s lack of content moderation has allowed criminal activities to thrive on the platform. Durov may face possible indictment as early as Sunday.
Mario Nawfal, an investor and content curator on X, stated that Durov could potentially face up to 20 years in prison, attributing his arrest to Telegram’s content moderation failures and his lack of cooperation with French law enforcement.
Telegram, an encrypted messaging service with nearly one billion users, is especially popular in Russia, Ukraine, and other former Soviet republics. Despite its global significance, Telegram has yet to respond to requests for comment from Reuters. Similarly, the French Interior Ministry and police have not issued any statements regarding the arrest.
Pavel Durov, a Russian-born entrepreneur, founded Telegram with his brother in 2013. They left Russia in 2014 after Durov refused government orders to shut down opposition groups on VKontakte, a social media platform he previously created and later sold. Durov has consistently prioritized freedom over government control.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Telegram has become a vital source of unfiltered information from both sides of the conflict. The platform is frequently used by Ukrainian and Russian officials to disseminate news, which often includes graphic and potentially misleading content. It is also one of the few platforms where Russians can still access independent news amid increasing Kremlin restrictions.
The Russian Foreign Ministry has expressed concern over Durov’s arrest in France, calling for his release and urging Western non-governmental organizations to support his case.
This arrest has triggered significant international reactions, recalling past tensions between Durov and Russia, such as the 2018 attempt to ban Telegram when the company refused to provide state security services with access to encrypted user messages. Durov, who currently resides in Dubai and is estimated by Forbes to be worth $15.5 billion, has consistently maintained that Telegram should remain a neutral platform, uninvolved in geopolitical issues.
His arrest has drawn sharp criticism from Russian politicians, who accuse France of overreach. Prominent figures like Elon Musk and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have also commented on the situation, raising concerns about free speech.
Russian bloggers have called for global protests at French embassies, reflecting widespread discontent over Durov’s detention. As the situation continues to unfold, the impact on Telegram’s operations remains uncertain.
