Pavel Durov, a 39-year-old Russian-born entrepreneur, is the founder and owner of the messaging app Telegram.
Pavel Durov, the billionaire founder and CEO of Telegram, was reportedly detained at Bourget Airport near Paris on Saturday evening, according to French media sources.
The reports suggest that the investigation revolves around the lack of moderation on Telegram, which authorities believe has enabled criminal activities to occur unchecked on the platform.
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As of now, Telegram has not responded to requests for comment from Reuters. Both the French Interior Ministry and the police have declined to make any statements. Meanwhile, Russia’s Foreign Ministry has announced that it is working to clarify the situation and questioned whether Western NGOs would advocate for Durov’s release.
Background on Pavel Durov and Telegram:
Pavel Durov, a 39-year-old Russian-born entrepreneur, is the founder and owner of Telegram, a messaging app that competes with platforms like WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok, and WeChat. Telegram is free to use and aims to reach over a billion active monthly users within the next year.
The app holds significant influence in regions such as Russia, Ukraine, and other former Soviet republics. It has become a vital information channel regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, with both Russian and Ukrainian officials heavily utilizing the platform. Some experts even describe Telegram as a “virtual battlefield” in the war.
Durov, whose wealth is estimated at $15.5 billion by Forbes, left Russia in 2014 after he refused to comply with government orders to shut down opposition groups on VKontakte, the social media platform he previously owned and later sold.
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Reports from Russian and French media indicate that Durov obtained French citizenship in 2021. He relocated himself and Telegram to Dubai in 2017.
In an interview with U.S. journalist Tucker Carlson in April, Pavel Durov explained his departure from Russia, stating, “I would rather be free than take orders from anyone.” He also discussed his search for a suitable base for his company, which included stops in Berlin, London, Singapore, and San Francisco.
During the same interview, Durov revealed that aside from money or Bitcoin, he does not own significant assets like real estate, jets, or yachts, as he values his freedom above material possessions.