French Police Arrest Telegram Founder Durov
Local media reports indicate that Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, has been apprehended at Paris-Le Bourget Airport. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
Pavel Durov, the Russian founder of the messaging app Telegram, has been detained at Paris-Le Bourget Airport after arriving in Paris on a private jet, according to local broadcaster LCI.
The arrest took place around 8pm local time, following Durov's arrival from Azerbaijan. A French passport holder since 2021, he also holds citizenship in the UAE, Saint Kitts and Nevis, as well as his native Russia. He was reportedly traveling with a woman and a bodyguard at the time of his detention.
According to LCI, French authorities issued an arrest warrant for the tech entrepreneur in connection with a preliminary investigation. Paris suspects that Durov's association with Telegram, which is criticized for its insufficient moderation, encryption features, and alleged lack of cooperation with law enforcement, could implicate him in drug trafficking, child exploitation, and fraud.
TF1 reported that Durov is expected to appear before a judge later tonight and could face up to 20 years in prison.
Furthermore, as a French citizen, Durov may also encounter charges related to violations of sanctions imposed by the EU on Moscow due to his links in Russia.
The warrant for Durov’s arrest is only enforceable within French territory. “He made a mistake tonight. We don’t know why,” a source close to the investigation informed TF1-LCI. “In any case, he’s locked up.”
Ian Smith contributed to this report for TROIB News
The arrest took place around 8pm local time, following Durov's arrival from Azerbaijan. A French passport holder since 2021, he also holds citizenship in the UAE, Saint Kitts and Nevis, as well as his native Russia. He was reportedly traveling with a woman and a bodyguard at the time of his detention.
According to LCI, French authorities issued an arrest warrant for the tech entrepreneur in connection with a preliminary investigation. Paris suspects that Durov's association with Telegram, which is criticized for its insufficient moderation, encryption features, and alleged lack of cooperation with law enforcement, could implicate him in drug trafficking, child exploitation, and fraud.
TF1 reported that Durov is expected to appear before a judge later tonight and could face up to 20 years in prison.
Furthermore, as a French citizen, Durov may also encounter charges related to violations of sanctions imposed by the EU on Moscow due to his links in Russia.
The warrant for Durov’s arrest is only enforceable within French territory. “He made a mistake tonight. We don’t know why,” a source close to the investigation informed TF1-LCI. “In any case, he’s locked up.”
Ian Smith contributed to this report for TROIB News
