Pavel Durov, the cofounder and CEO of messaging app Telegram, was arrested in France on Saturday evening, according to French media. Sources told the TV network TF1 that he was arrested at the Bourget airport outside Paris after traveling in his private jet from Azerbaijan. The report added that a warrant had been issued as part of a police investigation into a lack of moderators on Telegram, which allowed criminal activity to take place.
Telegram did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fortune.
Durov was born in Russia and lives in Dubai, where Telegram is based, carrying dual citizenship in France and the United Arab Emirates. He and his brother Nikolai founded Telegram in 2013 but left Russia in 2014 after he refused to provide encrypted user data to Russia’s secret service and refusing to shut down opposition communities on a separate social network that he later sold. He moved to Dubai in 2017 and became a French citizen in 2021, according to Forbes, which estimates Durov’s net worth at $15.5 billion.
Telegram, which has about 900 million active users, has grown in popularity as a way to more securely communicate via its encrypted messages. While it has been used in conflict zones as well as by militant groups, Durov has said Telegram is a neutral platform and not a “player in geopolitics.”
French Authorities Accuse Telegram CEO of Complicity in Serious Crimes
Paris, France — Pavel Durov, the billionaire founder and CEO of Telegram, was detained at Paris-Le Bourget Airport on Friday night after his private jet landed from Azerbaijan, French media outlets reported. The arrest follows a warrant issued by French authorities accusing Durov of complicity in serious crimes facilitated through his encrypted messaging platform.
Sources close to Durov expressed shock at the French authorities’ decision, labeling it as “Macron’s personal vendetta.” They emphasized that the timing of the arrest appeared highly suspicious, with BFMTV reporting that Durov was placed on the wanted list just minutes before his plane touched down in Paris, immediately triggering the arrest warrant.
According to TF1, LCI, and BFMTV, the 39-year-old tech mogul was apprehended on charges of complicity in drug trafficking, crimes against children, and fraud. These charges stem from accusations that Durov failed to moderate illegal activities on Telegram and did not cooperate with law enforcement agencies investigating criminal activities conducted via the app.
An anonymous investigator cited by TF1 suggested that Durov is likely to face pre-trial detention. The source further claimed that Durov had knowingly avoided traveling to countries where Telegram was under scrutiny by security forces. “He made a mistake tonight. We don’t know why… Was this flight just a stopover? In any case, he’s in custody,” the source said.
Telegram’s Significance in the War in Ukraine
Telegram, which boasts over 900 million users globally, has gained prominence as a communication tool, especially among Russian speakers. The app has also become a crucial platform for sharing information related to the war in Ukraine, with reports indicating that it is used by the Russian military for communication purposes. Military expert Rob Lee highlighted on X (formerly Twitter) that any significant change to Telegram’s policies could substantially impact the flow of open-source information related to the conflict.
Concerns About Political Motivation Behind Durov’s Arrest
In response to Durov’s detention, Deputy Russian State Duma Speaker Vladislav Davankov appealed to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, urging him to seek Durov’s release. Davankov suggested that the arrest might be politically motivated and intended to gain access to Telegram users’ personal information. “This must not be allowed,” Davankov told the state-run RIA Novosti news agency.
Durov, who was born in Russia and is now based in Dubai, became a naturalized French citizen in August 2021. He is also the founder of VKontakte, Russia’s largest social network, from which he was forced to step down in 2014 after refusing to provide user data to Russian security services.
The French charges against Durov echo concerns expressed by investigative journalist Christo Grozev, who criticized Durov’s refusal to cooperate with any authorities, not just Russian ones. “His non-cooperation with the FSB in favor of free speech is unfortunately completely neutralized by his non-cooperation with anyone to stop Telegram from being used for all these terrible things,” Grozev wrote.
Durov has previously spoken about the pressures he faces from global security agencies. In a recent interview with Tucker Carlson, he claimed that U.S. authorities had attempted to exert control over Telegram during his visits to the country, including efforts to recruit his engineers and install backdoor access to the app.
“We get too much attention from the FBI and other security agencies whenever we come to the U.S.
The last time I was in the U.S., I brought an engineer who works for Telegram.
There was an attempt by cybersecurity officers or agents to secretly hire my engineer behind my back.
They were curious to learn which open-source libraries are integrated into Telegram’s app, and they tried to persuade him to use certain open-source tools that would serve as backdoors.
I personally experienced similar pressure in the U.S. Whenever I would go to the U.S., I would have two FBI agents greet me at the airport, asking questions.
My understanding is that they wanted to establish a relationship to control Telegram better.”
Could Durov’s Arrest Be a Pretext to Suppress Free Speech?
Critics of the arrest argue that Durov’s detention may be linked to his refusal to censor certain content on Telegram, which they claim includes truthful information that challenges various narratives. This perspective suggests that the charges against Durov could be a pretext to suppress free speech and control the flow of information on a platform known for its strong stance on privacy and user autonomy.
As the situation develops, all eyes will be on how French authorities handle the case, given the potential international implications and the massive user base of Telegram.
Is This the End of Telegram's Free Speech Stance?
The arrest of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov has sent shockwaves through the tech community and the cryptocurrency market. Critics argue that the move could signal the end of Telegram's commitment to user privacy and free speech, particularly in the context of ongoing tensions with governments around the world.
The arrest has also raised concerns about the potential for censorship and suppression of dissent on the platform, particularly given Telegram’s popularity among opposition groups and activists.
The future of Telegram remains uncertain, but the arrest of its CEO is a significant development that could have far-reaching implications for the platform and its users.
Source: Agents
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