Pavel Durov, Founder of Telegram, Arrested in France
Telegram founder Pavel Durov has been arrested in France on charges of facilitating organised crime through his platform
Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of the popular encrypted messaging platform Telegram, was arrested last Saturday at Le Bourget Airport, France, after landing in his private jet from Azerbaijan.
The arrest, carried out by the Air Transport Gendarmerie (GTA), took place around 8:00 PM and caught Durov by surprise, as he was accompanied by his bodyguard and a woman.
Durov's arrest was the result of a search warrant issued by the French National Office of Judicial Police (OFMIN), based on a preliminary investigation linking him to a series of serious crimes, including complicity in drug trafficking, offenses against minors, fraud, and money laundering.
According to sources close to the case, Telegram has been criticized for its lack of moderation and cooperation with authorities, making the platform a key channel for organized crime.
The search warrant was activated the moment Durov, a 39-year-old Franco-Russian national, set foot on French soil—a country he had avoided for years due to his status as a persona non grata.
Durov, who primarily traveled to the United Arab Emirates, former USSR countries, and South America, was notified and taken into police custody by investigators from the National Anti-Fraud Office (ONAF), attached to the customs department.
Durov is expected to be presented before an investigating judge, who could formalize charges of terrorism, complicity in drug trafficking, fraud, money laundering, and the distribution of criminal child content, among others.
According to police sources, his preventive detention seems inevitable given the severity of the charges and Durov's financial resources, which could facilitate his escape.