Pavel Durov, the Russian-born billionaire and co-founder of the Telegram messaging app, was arrested in France in connection with an investigation into criminal activities on the platform and his alleged non-cooperation with law enforcement, prosecutors announced on Monday.
Durov, who holds French citizenship, was detained at Le Bourget airport near Paris on Saturday evening after arriving from Azerbaijan on his private jet. His unexpected arrest has sparked a global debate on free speech and prompted outrage in Moscow.
Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau stated that the investigation involves crimes related to illicit transactions, child sexual abuse, fraud, and Durov’s refusal to provide information to authorities.
Earlier, French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed Durov’s arrest as part of a judicial inquiry related to Telegram.
“In a state governed by the rule of law, freedoms are upheld within a legal framework, both on social media and in real life, to protect citizens and respect their fundamental rights,” Macron wrote on X. He added that the arrest was “in no way a political decision” and emphasized that it is the judiciary’s role, operating independently, to enforce the law.
A senior official at Ofmin, a French agency established last year to prevent violence against children, indicated that Durov’s arrest was linked to Telegram’s failure to effectively combat crime on the app, including the distribution of child sexual abuse material. Ofmin issued the warrant for Durov’s arrest.
“At the heart of this case is the lack of moderation and cooperation from the platform (which has nearly 1 billion users), particularly in the fight against crimes against children,” Jean-Michel Bernigaud, secretary general of Ofmin, wrote on LinkedIn.
Beccuau revealed that Durov was arrested as part of an investigation “into X” – an inquiry into persons unknown – which was initiated on July 8 following a preliminary investigation by officers of the National Jurisdiction for Combating Organized Crime (Junalco).
Specialist cybercrime and fraud detectives are examining 12 alleged offenses linked to organized crime, including complicity in possessing and distributing images of a “pedo-pornographic nature,” drug offenses, and fraud. It remains unclear which, if any, of these offenses Durov is being questioned about.
On Sunday, the investigating magistrate extended Durov’s detention from 24 to 96 hours. By the end of this period, the magistrate must decide whether to charge him with a crime and continue his detention or release him.
In a statement on Sunday evening, Telegram claimed Durov had “nothing to hide.” The company stated, “Telegram complies with EU laws, including the Digital Services Act – its moderation practices align with industry standards and are continuously improving. It is absurd to suggest that a platform or its owner is responsible for the misuse of that platform.”
Durov, who describes himself as a libertarian and has often been compared to “Russia’s Mark Zuckerberg,” left Russia in 2014 after refusing to comply with Kremlin demands to shut down opposition groups on VK, the social network he founded at 22.
He was compelled to sell VK after a dispute with its Kremlin-connected owners and then turned his focus to Telegram, which he launched with his brother Nikolai in 2013. Durov, who resides in Dubai, obtained his French passport in 2021 through a special procedure for high-profile foreigners, exempting him from the standard legal requirements, including living in the country for at least five years.
Telegram has been a crucial tool for pro-democracy activists in countries like Belarus, Hong Kong, and Iran. In Russia, the government was forced to lift a ban on the app after years of unsuccessful attempts to restrict its use.
However, Telegram has also become a refuge for extremists and conspiracy theorists. The app was notably used by far-right agitators organizing anti-immigration rallies in England and Northern Ireland following the stabbing of three children at a dance class in Southport last month.
Telegram has denied allegations that it facilitates illegal activities, such as terrorism, fraud, and child exploitation.
Despite Durov’s previous conflicts with the Kremlin, his arrest has incited anger in Moscow and has been portrayed by Russian officials as evidence of Western hypocrisy regarding free speech.
“The arrest of Pavel Durov confirmed that there has been no European or even global (pro-Western) freedom of speech,” stated Sergei Mironov, a veteran Russian ultra-nationalist politician and ally of Vladimir Putin.
Maria Butina, a Russian lawmaker who served 15 months in a U.S. prison for acting as an unregistered Russian agent, called Durov “a political prisoner – a victim of a witch hunt by the West.”
The Russian embassy in France reported that it had requested consular access to Durov, but his representatives reportedly did not respond, according to Russian state media.
Durov’s arrest has reignited discussions about the responsibility of social media companies for content shared on their platforms and whether they should prioritize safety and cooperation with authorities over the principle of free speech. Elon Musk, who identifies as a “free speech absolutist,” condemned Durov’s arrest, claiming that free speech in Europe is under attack.
