Pavel Durov, the CEO of the messaging app Telegram, was arrested at Le Bourget airport near Paris, France, over the weekend. The arrest, part of an ongoing investigation by French authorities, stems from allegations of serious crimes including money laundering, drug trafficking, human trafficking, and child sexual exploitation.
Durov, a dual citizen of France and Russia, was taken into custody after arriving on a private jet on Saturday night. The National Anti-Fraud Office, connected to the French customs department, notified Durov of his arrest. French media reports indicate that the warrant for Durov’s arrest was issued at the request of a special unit within the country’s interior ministry, responsible for investigating crimes against minors. The specific charges against Durov include online sexual exploitation, including the possession and distribution of child sexual abuse (CSA) content and grooming for sexual purposes.
Durov founded Telegram with his brother in 2011 after experiencing a crackdown on online freedom in Russia following mass pro-democracy protests in Moscow. The Russian government’s response to these protests included new regulations forcing internet service providers to block websites and cellphone operators to store all message records, which could then be shared with security services.
Telegram issued a statement addressing the allegations: “Telegram abides by EU laws, including the Digital Services Act – its moderation is within industry standards and constantly improving. Telegram’s CEO Pavel Durov has nothing to hide and travels frequently in Europe. It is absurd to claim that a platform or its owner are responsible for abuse of that platform. We’re awaiting a prompt resolution of this situation.”
