Last Updated on September 6, 2024
Pavel Durov Arrested at Paris Airport.
Arrest Details
Pavel Durov, the billionaire co-founder and CEO of Telegram, was detained on Saturday(25th of August) evening at Bourget Airport near Paris, according to TF1 TV. The source of this information remains unnamed. Durov was on his private jet when the arrest took place, as a French arrest warrant had been issued against him.
Travel and Arrest
The 39-year-old entrepreneur was traveling from Azerbaijan and was apprehended around 8 p.m. local time (6 p.m. GMT). He was slated to appear in court the following day.
Background and Residence
Durov, who resides in Dubai where Telegram is headquartered, holds dual citizenship of France and the United Arab Emirates. His wealth is estimated by Forbes at $15.5 billion (£12 billion). Durov left Russia in 2014 after refusing to shut down opposition groups on his VK social media platform, which he subsequently sold.
Telegram’s Response and Embassy Actions
Telegram has yet to respond to a Reuters inquiry regarding the arrest. The Russian embassy in France is currently taking proactive measures to understand the situation. TASS reported that, according to a representative from the Russian embassy, there has been no formal request for assistance from Durov’s team, but the embassy is acting swiftly to address the matter.
Telegram’s Overview
Founded by Durov and his brother Nikolai in 2013, Telegram boasts approximately 900 million active users. The messaging app is known for its end-to-end encryption and allows users to create “channels” to distribute information rapidly.