Pavel Durov, the billionaire founder and CEO of messaging app Telegram, was taken into custody at Bourget Airport near Paris on Saturday, according to French news sources TF1 and BFM TV. The arrest was made under a French warrant related to a preliminary investigation into Telegram’s suspected involvement in facilitating criminal activities.
Durov, a 39-year-old Franco-Russian citizen, was traveling on his private jet from Azerbaijan with a bodyguard and a woman when he was apprehended by the Air Transport Gendarmerie. As of the time of this report, Telegram has not issued an official statement regarding the incident.
Similarly, the French Interior Ministry and police have declined to comment on the matter. The detention of Durov has raised questions about the future of Telegram and its operations, as the platform has faced scrutiny over its alleged ties to criminal activity.
