Telegram's Pavel Durov arrested in France amidst serious charges

Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of the Telegram messenger, was arrested at Le Bourget Airport in France, shortly after arriving by private jet from Azerbaijan, reports the French news service TF1, citing its sources. The arrest was based on a warrant issued by the French authorities.

The detention of the 39-year-old billionaire took place on 24 August at around 7 p.m. Greenwich Time, as Durov, travelling with a woman and his bodyguard, was leaving the private jet.

The operation was carried out by officers of the French Air Transport Gendarmerie, who made the arrest in accordance with a French warrant issued by the National Criminal Police Office.

Durov, listed in the registry of wanted persons, was the subject of an investigation relating to charges of complicity in crimes such as drug trafficking, paedophile crimes, fraud, and money laundering.

The French prosecutor's office believes that the lack of moderation on Telegram and the reluctance to cooperate with law enforcement make him responsible for crimes committed on the platform.

Durov, who is considered one of the leading defenders of user privacy and human rights, such as freedom of speech and assembly, regards Telegram as a neutral platform, uninvolved in geopolitics. In an interview given earlier this year, he stated that his application will remain outside the political game.

Durov's fortune is estimated at around £12 billion. French authorities emphasise that social media companies, including Telegram, must make greater efforts to prevent extremists from using their services for criminal purposes.

Durov, born in Russia, currently lives in Dubai, where his company is headquartered. He left Russia in 2014 after a conflict with the authorities over user data protection. He holds citizenship of both France and the United Arab Emirates. Telegram has gained significance as a tool supporting pro-democratic movements, especially in Iran and Russia.