The founder and CEO of messaging service Telegram was reportedly arrested at a Paris airport over the weekend.
French broadcasters LCI and TF1 reported that Pavel Durov was detained at Paris-Le Bourget airport on Saturday evening, according to the Associated Press. French media reported that Durov was held on an arrest warrant issued for him on suspicion of using his platform to fund money laundering, drug trafficking and other crimes, according to the Associated Press.
French media reported that Durov had been informed by France’s customs national anti-fraud office that he would be taken into police custody, according to the Associated Press.
Reuters Citing two French police sources and one Russian source, the news agency also reported on Durov’s arrest, saying he was arrested shortly after arriving on a private jet from Azerbaijan.
Telegram was founded by Durov and his brother Nikolai Durov. Release Launched in 2013, it continues to be a popular messaging service, especially regarding the Russia-Ukraine war.
Telegram is statement The company complies with European Union law and its controls are “within industry standards and are constantly being improved.”
“It is absurd to claim that the platform or its owners are responsible for the misuse of its platform,” Telegram’s statement said. “Nearly one billion users around the world use Telegram as a means of communication and an important source of information. We await a swift resolution to this situation. Telegram stands with you.”
Tech billionaire Elon Musk, who owns social media platform X, also wrote about the arrest: “Free Pavel” In post X.
The Associated Press contributed.
