Pavel Durov, the billionaire founder and CEO of Telegram, was arrested at Le Bourget airport near Paris shortly after arriving on a private jet from Azerbaijan on Saturday night, according to three sources. Durov, who holds dual French and UAE citizenship, was taken into custody as part of a preliminary investigation into Telegram’s alleged failure to prevent crimes due to inadequate moderation and lack of cooperation with law enforcement.
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The arrest of the 39-year-old tech mogul sparked a warning from Moscow, urging France to respect his rights, and drew criticism from Elon Musk, the owner of X, who claimed that freedom of speech in Europe was under threat.
Although there has been no official statement from French authorities, two French police sources and a Russian source confirmed Durov’s arrest. One French police source mentioned that law enforcement had flagged Durov’s presence on the passenger list before his jet landed, as he was wanted under an arrest warrant in France.
In response, Telegram stated, “Telegram abides by EU laws, including the Digital Services Act — its moderation is within industry standards and constantly improving.”
“Telegram’s CEO Pavel Durov has nothing to hide and travels frequently in Europe,” the company added. “It is absurd to claim that a platform or its owner are responsible for abuse of that platform.”
The investigation, led by a cybersecurity gendarmerie unit and France’s national anti-fraud police, is supervised by a judge specializing in organized crime. Telegram said it is awaiting a “prompt resolution” of the matter.
The French Interior Ministry, police, and Paris prosecutor’s office have yet to comment on the arrest.
Russian lawmaker Maria Butina condemned the arrest, labeling Durov a “political prisoner” and a victim of a “witch-hunt by the West.” Durov’s arrest has dominated news in Russia.
Durov, who left Russia in 2014 after refusing to comply with demands to shut down opposition groups on his social media platform VK, founded Telegram, now based in Dubai. The app, known for its strong encryption and nearly a billion users, has significant influence in Russia, Ukraine, and other former Soviet states.
Despite its growth, Telegram has faced scrutiny from governments worldwide, particularly in Europe, over security and data concerns. Durov, estimated by Forbes to have a net worth of $15.5 billion, has maintained that Telegram should remain neutral and not become a “player in geopolitics.”
Russia’s foreign ministry has requested access to Durov, despite his French citizenship, and former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev criticized Durov’s decision to leave Russia, suggesting that he had underestimated the global scrutiny he would face.
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