Pavel Durov, the Franco-Russian founder of the messaging app Telegram, was officially arrested yesterday (Saturday, 24/08) upon arriving at Le Bourget airport on his private jet due to outstanding warrants against him.
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French Investigation Links Telegram’s Failures to Serious Crimes
According to international media reports, the warrants stem from a preliminary investigation by the French justice system, which accuses Telegram of failing to moderate content and cooperate with authorities in combating crimes committed through the app.
This lack of cooperation has led to accusations that Pavel Durov is complicit in crimes such as drug trafficking, fraud, and crimes against children, highlighting the serious nature of the charges against the CEO and founder of Telegram.
Russian Embassy Uninformed About Durov’s Arrest
The international press also reported that the Russian embassy in France has not been contacted by Durov’s team for support following the arrest. However, the embassy is taking immediate steps to clarify the situation as soon as possible.
It’s important to note that it is not unusual for the Russian embassy to remain uninformed, as Pavel Durov was forced to move Telegram’s operations to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, after refusing the Kremlin’s demands for access to user data.
Regarding the lack of access for authorities, Telegram has a history of limited cooperation, with the app only blocking channels and accounts by court order through the Brazilian and German justice systems.
As of now, Telegram has not issued an official statement about the arrest, and the app continues to operate normally in all countries where it is available.
