Pavel Durov, the billionaire founder and CEO of Telegram, was reportedly arrested on Saturday evening at Bourget Airport near Paris. French news outlets TF1 and BFM TV revealed that Durov was detained under a French warrant related to an investigation into Telegram’s alleged involvement in facilitating various criminal activities, including terrorism, drug trafficking, and fraud.
Durov was traveling from Azerbaijan on his private jet when the warrant was activated upon his arrival in France. He was taken into custody by the Air Transport Gendarmerie along with a bodyguard and a woman accompanying him.
French authorities accuse Telegram of enabling a range of illegal activities due to inadequate moderation and lack of cooperation with law enforcement. The National Anti-Fraud Office (ONAF) is overseeing the investigation, while both Telegram and French officials have yet to comment on the arrest.
