French Authorities Detain Telegram CEO Pavel Durov in Paris

PARIS — Telegram’s founder and CEO, Pavel Durov, was apprehended at a Paris airport on Sunday, according to reports from French media outlets.

Durov was taken into custody at Paris Le Bourget airport on Saturday evening upon his arrival from Azerbaijan, as reported by broadcasters LCI and TF1.

Investigators from the National Anti-Fraud Office, affiliated with the French customs department, informed Durov of his detention, the broadcasters stated.

When contacted by The Associated Press on Sunday, French prosecutors declined to provide any comment on Durov’s arrest, adhering to regulations governing ongoing investigations.

French media outlets reported that Durov, 39, was the subject of an arrest warrant issued by France based on accusations that his encrypted platform has been used for money laundering, drug trafficking, and the sharing of content related to the sexual exploitation of minors.

Telegram has faced criticism from Western governments for its lack of content moderation on the messaging service.

Russian government officials expressed outrage over Durov’s arrest, with some highlighting what they described as the West’s double standards regarding freedom of speech.

“In 2018, a group of 26 NGOs, including Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, Freedom House, Reporters Without Borders, the Committee to Protect Journalists, and others, condemned the Russian court’s decision to block Telegram,” said Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“Do you think this time they’ll appeal to Paris and demand Durov’s release?” Zakharova questioned in a post on her personal Telegram account.