Pavel Durov, CEO of Telegram [Photo Credit: AFP]
Pavel Durov, the chief executive of the popular messaging app Telegram, is set to appear in a Paris court on Sunday after his arrest at a Paris airport. The 39-year-old Franco-Russian billionaire is facing serious charges that could result in a 20-year prison sentence if convicted. His arrest has generated tensions between France and Russia, with Russia accusing France of refusing to cooperate on the matter.
Durov was detained at Le Bourget airport on Saturday night after arriving from Baku, Azerbaijan, according to sources close to the case. France’s Office for the Fight against Violence towards Minors (OFMIN) had issued an arrest warrant for him as part of a preliminary investigation into a range of alleged offences. These include fraud, drug trafficking, cyberbullying, organized crime, and the promotion of terrorism, sources told AFP.
The charges against Durov are related to his failure to prevent the criminal use of Telegram, a messaging platform that boasts over 900 million active users. Telegram has become a popular alternative to US-owned platforms, largely due to its strong commitment to user privacy and its promise never to disclose user information.
“Enough of Telegram’s impunity,” said one investigator, expressing surprise that Durov flew to Paris despite being aware that he was a wanted man.
Russian authorities have expressed outrage over Durov’s arrest and the lack of cooperation from France. “We immediately asked French authorities to explain the reasons for this detention and demanded that his rights be protected and that consular access be granted. Up to now, the French side is refusing to cooperate on this question,” stated Russia’s embassy in Paris, as reported by the Ria Novosti news agency.
The arrest has also drawn reactions from prominent figures. Businessman Elon Musk, who owns the X social media platform, posted the hashtag #FreePavel and wrote in French, “Liberté! Liberté! Liberté?” (Freedom! Freedom! Freedom?). Meanwhile, former US presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. commented on X, emphasizing the urgent need to protect free speech.
Telegram, based in Dubai, has positioned itself as a platform that prioritizes user privacy, unlike many other social media platforms that have been criticized for exploiting users’ personal data for commercial gain. Durov, in an April interview with right-wing talk show host Tucker Carlson, revealed that he was inspired to create Telegram after facing pressure from the Russian government while working at VK, a social network he founded before selling it and leaving Russia in 2014.
He explained that he had tried settling in several cities, including Berlin, London, Singapore, and San Francisco, before choosing Dubai for its favorable business environment and “neutrality.” He praised the platform’s commitment to independence and freedom, which he believes are key reasons why so many users have switched to Telegram.
Despite its popularity, Telegram has faced criticism for its role in enabling the spread of false information and extremist content. Unlike competitor messaging service WhatsApp, which introduced limits on message forwarding in 2019 to combat the spread of misinformation, Telegram allows groups of up to 200,000 members, leading to concerns that it facilitates the dissemination of harmful content, including neo-Nazi, conspiratorial, and terrorist materials.
As the legal battle unfolds, Durov’s case is likely to further intensify the ongoing debate over the responsibilities of social media platforms in regulating content and the balance between protecting free speech and preventing criminal activity.