Pavel Durov, the Russian-born billionaire and founder of the Telegram messaging app, was arrested at Le Bourget airport near Paris late Saturday, shortly after arriving on a private jet, according to sources cited by Reuters.
The arrest of the 39-year-old tech mogul has triggered diplomatic warnings from Moscow to Paris, urging respect for his rights. Meanwhile, Elon Musk, owner of X (formerly Twitter), criticized the situation as an attack on free speech in Europe.
Though there has been no official confirmation from French authorities, both a French police source and a Russian source, speaking anonymously, reported that Durov was detained after flying in from Azerbaijan. The arrest is reportedly linked to an ongoing investigation into allegations that Telegram’s lack of moderation and cooperation with law enforcement facilitates criminal activity, according to a third French police source.
Russian lawmaker Maria Butina labeled Durov as a “political prisoner” and accused Western countries of targeting Telegram for control. Butina, who was previously imprisoned in the U.S. for acting as an unregistered Russian agent, sees the arrest as part of a broader effort by the West to undermine the platform. The news quickly dominated headlines in Russia.
Telegram, based in Dubai, has not commented on the arrest, and neither the French Interior Ministry nor the Paris prosecutor’s office has issued a statement. French media reports suggest Durov could be indicted as early as Sunday.
Durov founded Telegram after leaving Russia in 2014, having refused to comply with government demands to shut down opposition groups on his VK social media platform, which he later sold. The encrypted app, now boasting close to a billion users, plays a significant role in Russia, Ukraine, and former Soviet republics. It ranks among major global platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, and TikTok.
Durov, estimated by Forbes to be worth $15.5 billion, has been vocal about maintaining Telegram as a “neutral platform” and resisting pressure from governments. He developed the app as a secure communication tool during his challenges in Russia, with his younger brother Nikolai designing the encryption system.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Telegram has become a critical channel for unfiltered information, often hosting graphic and sometimes misleading content from both sides. Analysts describe it as a “virtual battlefield” where Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Russian government officials engage in information warfare.
The Russian foreign ministry confirmed it has requested access to Durov, despite his dual citizenship in France and the UAE. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev criticized Durov’s decision to leave Russia, remarking that he had “miscalculated” by believing he could avoid cooperating with foreign security agencies.
Medvedev, a frequent user of Telegram to attack Western nations, said Durov’s Russian identity makes him unpredictable and dangerous in the eyes of Western governments.
Russia attempted to block Telegram in 2018 after the company refused to provide security services with access to encrypted user messages. The ban had little impact on the app’s availability, but it led to protests and backlash in Moscow.
Durov was reportedly traveling from Azerbaijan when he was detained at around 8 p.m. local time. Telegram has maintained that it is committed to safeguarding user privacy and upholding rights like freedom of speech.
Durov has previously accused agencies like the FBI of seeking backdoor access to the platform, allegations that the FBI has not addressed. With Telegram’s growing popularity in Europe, countries like France have increasingly scrutinized its role in security and data protection.
Responding to the reports of Durov’s detention, Elon Musk tweeted, “It’s 2030 in Europe and you’re being executed for liking a meme.”