By Peter Bergman (MoneyAmped.com)
Pavel Durov, the wealthy entrepreneur from Russia and the mastermind behind the popular Telegram messaging app, was apprehended at Le Bourget airport near Paris upon his arrival on a private jet late Saturday. According to a reliable police source, he was promptly taken into custody.
The 39-year-old tech mogul’s apprehension triggered a cautionary message from Moscow to Paris, urging them to ensure that his rights are respected. This incident also drew disapproval from Elon Musk, the owner of X, who expressed concern about the state of free speech in Europe.
France has not officially confirmed the arrest, although both French and Russian media have reported it. According to these reports, Durov was apprehended shortly after he arrived at Le Bourget airport on a private jet from Azerbaijan.
According to reports from France’s BFM and TF1, Durov, who holds both French and United Arab Emirates citizenship, has been apprehended as part of a preliminary police inquiry. The investigation revolves around allegations of potential criminal activities facilitated by the absence of moderators on Telegram and a perceived lack of cooperation with law enforcement authorities. The police source from Reuters was unable to verify that information.
Despite numerous attempts to obtain a response, Telegram and its senior managers remained unresponsive. The French Interior Ministry, police, and Paris prosecutor’s office did not provide any comment. According to French media reports, Durov may be indicted on Sunday.
Telegram, headquartered in Dubai, was established by Durov. He departed from Russia in 2014 after he declined to comply with requests to close down opposition communities on his VK social media platform, which he has since sold.
The highly secure messaging platform, boasting nearly one billion users, holds significant sway in Russia, Ukraine, and the nations that were once part of the Soviet Union. It has a prominent position among the leading social media platforms, following Facebook (NASDAQ:META), YouTube, WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok, and WeChat.
Freedom Above All Else
Durov, whose wealth is valued at $15.5 billion according to Forbes, stated in April that certain governments had attempted to influence him. However, he emphasized that the app should maintain its impartiality and refrain from engaging in geopolitical matters.
Durov conceived of a secure messaging application as a means of communication during a challenging period in Russia. His younger brother, Nikolai, designed the encryption.
“I prefer to have my freedom rather than being under someone’s command,” Durov expressed in April regarding his departure from Russia and his quest to find a suitable location for his company, which involved periods in Berlin, London, Singapore, and San Francisco.
Following Russia’s incursion into Ukraine in 2022, Telegram has emerged as the primary platform for accessing uncensored – and occasionally explicit and deceptive – information from both factions regarding the war and the political dynamics surrounding the crisis.
The platform has transformed into what analysts describe as a virtual battleground for the conflict, extensively utilized by Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, his officials, and the Russian government.
The Russian foreign ministry has requested access to Durov from the French government despite acknowledging his French citizenship.
According to Dmitry Medvedev, the ex-president of Russia, Durov made a miscalculation by leaving the country and assuming that he could avoid collaborating with foreign security services.
Medvedev, who frequently employs Telegram to express his disapproval and hurl insults at the West, claimed that Durov aspired to become an exceptional “citizen of the world” who thrives without any allegiance to his homeland.
“He made an error in his calculations,” Medvedev stated. “Given our shared adversaries, his nationality as Russian makes him an individual of uncertain and perilous nature.”
In 2018, Russia initiated the blocking of Telegram due to the app’s refusal to comply with a court order requiring state security services to access its users’ encrypted messages.
The incident caused disruptions to numerous third-party services but had minimal impact on Telegram’s accessibility in that region. The ban, however, ignited widespread demonstrations in Moscow and drew condemnation from NGOs.
Unbiased Platform
As French and Russian media outlets reported, Durov was taken into custody at approximately 8 p.m. (1800 GMT) after his arrival from Azerbaijan.
Telegram emphasizes its dedication to safeguarding user privacy and upholding fundamental human rights, including freedom of speech and assembly.
Durov has previously made allegations against U.S. law enforcement agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), claiming that they are attempting to gain unauthorized access to the platform. The FBI has refrained from providing any statements regarding those accusations.
The growing popularity of Telegram has led to increased scrutiny from various European countries, such as France, due to concerns regarding security and potential data breaches.
Musk, the wealthy proprietor of X, the popular online platform previously recognized as Twitter, expressed his concern following news of Durov’s apprehension: “In Europe, it’s the year 2030, and individuals are facing capital punishment merely for appreciating a humorous internet image.”
In Moscow, near the French embassy, a solitary demonstrator displayed a placard that said: “Free Pavel Durov.”
