Pavel Durov, the Russian-born founder of Telegram, is being held in France for a second day of questioning related to alleged offences involving his messaging app. Telegram has asserted that Durov has “nothing to hide.”
Durov, 39, was detained after arriving at Le Bourget Airport near Paris late Saturday. This marks another dramatic development in the career of one of the tech world’s most prominent figures.
The initial period of detention, which can last up to 96 hours, was extended beyond Sunday night by the investigating magistrate. At the end of this period, the judge will decide whether to release Durov or press charges, potentially leading to further custody. Forbes estimates Durov’s net worth at $15.5 billion.
Russia has criticised France for “refusing to cooperate,” while prominent tech entrepreneur Elon Musk has voiced support for Durov, calling for his release with the hashtag #FreePavel. Durov, who holds a French passport among other nationalities, had arrived in Paris from Baku, Azerbaijan, and was planning a dinner in the city, according to sources. He was accompanied by his usual security team.
The arrest warrant was issued by France’s Office for the Fight against Violence toward Minors (OFMIN), which is investigating Durov for alleged offences including fraud, drug trafficking, cyberbullying, organised crime, and terrorism promotion. Durov is accused of not adequately addressing criminal misuse of his platform.
In response, Telegram stated, “Durov has nothing to hide and travels frequently in Europe. Telegram complies with EU laws, including the Digital Services Act, and its moderation practices meet industry standards. It is absurd to hold a platform or its owner responsible for misuse.”
Concerns Over Free Speech
Durov founded Telegram in 2013 after departing Russia due to disputes over his previous venture, the social network VKontakte (VK). Telegram’s popularity has soared, partly due to its user-friendly video channels. However, critics have accused it of hosting illegal content, including extreme sexual material, misinformation, and drug services.
The Russian embassy in Paris has demanded access to Durov but has reportedly received no response from French authorities, accusing them of “refusing to cooperate.”
Elon Musk has supported Durov, posting “Liberté, Liberté! Liberté?” on X (formerly Twitter), while U.S. whistleblower Edward Snowden condemned the arrest as “an assault on the basic human rights of speech and association,” expressing disappointment that Paris had “resorted to hostage-taking to gain access to private communications.”
Strategic Moves and International Impact
One of the key questions is why Durov entered France despite being aware of the arrest warrant. A source close to the case speculated that Durov might have felt a sense of impunity.
Telegram, based in Dubai, markets itself as a “neutral” alternative to U.S.-owned platforms criticised for exploiting user data. The app plays a crucial role in the Ukraine-Russia conflict, with Ukrainian officials and Russian pro-war “Z-bloggers” using it to share messages and updates.
In an April interview with Tucker Carlson, Durov predicted that Telegram would reach one billion users by next year and emphasised his commitment to personal freedom.
“My mission in life was to allow other people to also become free… and using the platforms that we created, my hope was that they could express their freedoms. This is the mission of Telegram,” he said.
