More details emerge about Telegram CEO’s arrest amid controversial criminal investigation

Pavel Durov, the founder of the popular messaging app Telegram, has been arrested in France as part of a broad investigation into alleged criminal activities carried out on the platform. According to a report by The New York Times, French prosecutors announced that the arrest is related to an ongoing investigation into child pornography, drug trafficking, fraud and other illegal activities conducted through Telegram.

Durov, 39, was arrested at Le Bourget airport near Paris on Saturday after arriving on a private jet from Azerbaijan. Although no formal charges have been filed against him, he remains in pre-trial detention. The pre-trial detention could be extended until Wednesday as investigators continue to question him.

The investigation, which began on July 8, involves cybercrime and anti-fraud specialists and focuses on possible charges against an unnamed individual for aiding and abetting the distribution of child pornography, drug trafficking, money laundering and failure to cooperate with law enforcement. Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau confirmed that Durov was being questioned as part of this broader investigation.

Under French law, special judges can handle complex criminal cases. They have extensive powers to investigate and, if justified, bring charges. However, these cases can take years to resolve and charges can be dropped if there is insufficient evidence.

The arrest has sparked a debate about free speech and state censorship. Telegram supporters claim Durov’s detention is politically motivated. President Emmanuel Macron addressed those concerns on Monday, saying the arrest was a purely legal matter and not influenced by political considerations. “The arrest of the president of Telegram on French soil took place in the context of an ongoing legal investigation,” Macron said in a statement. “It is in no way a political decision. It is up to the judges to rule on the matter.”

Telegram, which has over 900 million users, has been criticized for its inadequate control of content, making it the platform of choice for those seeking free speech in authoritarian regimes, but also for criminal groups. The app has long been under law enforcement scrutiny for its use by terrorist organizations, drug traffickers and other illicit actors.

The arrest of Durov, a Russian-born businessman who now owns French and UAE sovereignty, could further strain relations between France and Russia. The Russian embassy in France has asked the French authorities for clarification and consular access to Durov.

Durov, whose net worth is estimated at over $9 billion according to Bloomberg, left Russia in 2014 after losing control of Vkontakte, a popular social media platform in Russia. In 2013, he founded Telegram, which is now based in Dubai.

In response to the arrest, Telegram issued a statement calling it “absurd” to claim that a platform or its owner is responsible for the misuse of that platform. The company stressed that Durov had “nothing to hide.”