French authorities have apprehended Pavel Durov, the CEO and co-founder of the popular messaging app Telegram, at Le Bourget Airport near Paris. The 39-year-old billionaire, who holds dual citizenship in France and the United Arab Emirates, was arrested upon his arrival from Azerbaijan on a private jet.
According to French media reports, Durov is facing an arrest warrant related to alleged offences associated with Telegram, including fraud, drug trafficking, cyberbullying, organised crime, and the promotion of terrorism. The investigation is primarily focused on Telegram’s perceived failure to address criminal activities on its platform and cooperate with law enforcement regarding issues such as money laundering, child sexual exploitation, and cyber scams.
Telegram, which has nearly 1 billion users worldwide, has faced increasing scrutiny from European authorities for its hands-off approach to content moderation. The app has become a primary source of unfiltered information during conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, raising concerns about the unchecked spread of misinformation and extremist content.
The Russian Embassy in France has sought clarification from French authorities regarding Durov’s detention and has requested assurances that his rights will be protected and that he will have access to consular services. Several Russian officials have condemned Durov’s arrest, arguing that it demonstrates double standards in the West regarding free speech and democracy.
In a statement on Sunday evening, Telegram said that it “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. It is absurd to claim that a platform or its owner are responsible for abuse of that platform. We’re awaiting a prompt resolution of this situation.”
Initially similar to other messaging apps, Telegram has evolved into a social network with features like group chats of up to 200,000 users and broadcast channels. With 950 million active monthly users, it has become a major source of information and misinformation about the Russia-Ukraine war.
Telegram CEO Pavel Durov, who holds French and Emirati citizenship, lives in Dubai, where the app is based. He chose Dubai for its business-friendly environment and “neutrality” after considering other cities like Berlin, London, Singapore, and San Francisco.
In the UAE, Telegram faces little pressure to moderate its content, while Western governments are cracking down on hate speech, disinformation, and illegal content. The app’s end-to-end encryption and channel features make it popular in the former Soviet Union, especially among Ukrainian politicians and Zelenskyy’s circle, as well as Russians seeking unfiltered war information amid Kremlin media controls.
Durov, often referred to as “Russia’s Mark Zuckerberg,” co-founded Telegram in 2013 after leaving Russia in 2014 following a dispute with the government over his VKontakte social media platform. The messaging app was previously banned in Russia in 2018 but the ban was reversed in 2021.