Pavel Durov, the CEO of Telegram, was arrested by French police at Le Bourget Airport north of Paris after his private jet landed there.
The 39-year-old billionaire was detained under a warrant related to issues with the messaging app.
The investigation focuses on claims that Durov did not adequately address criminal activities on Telegram due to insufficient moderation.
Durov, a Russian native who resides in Dubai and holds dual UAE and French citizenship, faces scrutiny over Telegram’s handling of problematic content.
The app is popular in Russia, Ukraine, and former Soviet states but was banned in Russia in 2018 after Durov refused to surrender user data, though the ban was lifted in 2021.
Telegram, founded by Durov in 2013, is among the major social media platforms globally.
Durov left Russia in 2014 following demands to shut down opposition communities on VKontakte, which he had sold.
The Russian Embassy in France has sought access to Durov, requesting clarification on his detention and protection of his rights.
They reported difficulties in obtaining cooperation from French authorities and are in contact with Durov’s lawyer.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova criticized Western human rights organizations for not addressing Durov’s arrest, which she highlighted contrasts with their past criticism of Russia’s actions against Telegram.
Additionally, Elon Musk, owner of X (formerly Twitter), has voiced support for Durov, using hashtags like #freepavel and commenting on the situation in a broader context.
Telegram’s large group sizes have been criticized for potentially facilitating the spread of harmful content.
