On Sunday, French judicial authorities extended the detention of Pavel Durov, the Russian-born founder of Telegram, following his arrest at a Paris airport over alleged offenses connected to the messaging app.
Durov, 39, was apprehended at Le Bourget airport near Paris on Saturday after French investigators issued an arrest warrant related to an inquiry into accusations of fraud, drug trafficking, organized crime, terrorism promotion, and cyberbullying.
He was detained upon arriving in Paris from Baku on his private jet. An investigator expressed surprise at Durov’s decision to fly to Paris despite being a wanted man, commenting, “Enough of Telegram’s impunity.”
In response, Telegram issued a statement on Sunday evening asserting that it complies with EU regulations, including the Digital Services Act, and that its moderation practices meet industry standards and are continually improving. The statement further emphasized that Pavel Durov, who frequently travels in Europe, has nothing to hide and denounced claims that he or his platform is responsible for misuse of Telegram. Telegram is hoping for a swift resolution to the situation.
Durov’s detention was extended beyond Sunday night by the investigating magistrate, with the initial detention period for questioning potentially lasting up to 96 hours. After this phase, the judge will decide whether to release Durov or press charges and continue his detention.
Russian authorities have accused France of “refusing to cooperate” in the matter, with the Russian embassy in Paris requesting access to Durov and criticizing France for its lack of engagement.
Durov left Russia in 2014 after refusing to comply with Kremlin demands to shut down opposition groups on VK, the social network he founded. Following a dispute with VK’s Kremlin-linked owners, he shifted his focus to Telegram, which he and his brother Nikolai launched in 2013. Telegram has since become one of the most downloaded apps globally, with features for private messaging, large group chats, and broadcast channels.
With 950 million active monthly users, Telegram has become a significant platform for information—and misinformation—regarding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Durov resides in Dubai, where Telegram is based, and holds citizenship in France and the UAE. He had previously attempted to settle in Berlin, London, Singapore, and San Francisco before choosing Dubai for its favorable business environment and neutrality.
In the UAE, Telegram faces less pressure to moderate content compared to Western countries, where governments are increasingly cracking down on hate speech, disinformation, and other illegal content.
Following Durov’s arrest, former Russian president and current deputy head of Russia’s Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev, criticized Durov for fleeing Russia and failing to anticipate the need for cooperation with international security services. Medvedev remarked, “He miscalculated. For all our common enemies now, he is Russian – and therefore unpredictable and dangerous.”
Rightwing US commentator and conspiracy theorist Tucker Carlson described Durov as “a living warning to any platform owner who refuses to censor the truth at the behest of governments and intel agencies” following the arrest. In an interview earlier this year, Durov emphasized that Telegram should remain a “neutral platform” and not become entangled in geopolitics, noting that users value the app’s independence and privacy.
