Pavel Durov, the founder of the popular Telegram messaging service, has been arrested in Paris, France, on allegations of serious criminal activities. Durov, who was detained on Saturday evening at Le Bourget airport after arriving from Azerbaijan, faces accusations related to drug trafficking, fraud, and child abuse. The charges stem from claims that he failed to adequately cooperate with law enforcement authorities.
French media outlets TF1 and BFMTV reported that Durov, who was previously sought by French authorities, was taken into custody upon his arrival. A preliminary investigation has been initiated to determine the extent of his involvement in these crimes. The investigation is reportedly focused on whether Durov’s non-cooperation with authorities contributed to the alleged criminal activities.
In response to the arrest, the Russian embassy in France has expressed efforts to clarify the situation. The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that while they are working to understand the circumstances surrounding Durov’s arrest, the businessman’s representatives have yet to make any formal requests.
Pavel Durov, alongside his brother Nikolai, co-founded Telegram after their success with the Russian social network VK.com. VK.com, often compared to Facebook, is a major online platform in Russia used by numerous authorities and politicians. Durov’s relationship with the Russian government has been fraught with tension, particularly following his refusal to comply with demands to surrender data on protestors during the Ukrainian political unrest. This refusal led to his departure from Russia.
Telegram has faced criticism for its handling of user data and its approach to moderating content. The platform has been scrutinized for its perceived leniency towards hate speech and violent content. However, there have been instances where Telegram complied with requests from both Western and Russian authorities to remove extremist content.
As the investigation unfolds, the implications of Durov’s arrest could extend beyond legal consequences, potentially affecting the operations and reputation of Telegram, a service widely used for secure communication across the globe.
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