Telegram CEO Pavel Durov Arrested in France Amid Moderation Controversy

Pavel Durov, founder and CEO of Telegram, was arrested at Bourget airport near Paris due to a French arrest warrant linked to a preliminary police investigation. The probe focuses on a lack of moderators on Telegram, potentially enabling criminal activity. His detention has sparked political reactions and calls for protests.

Pavel Durov, the billionaire founder and CEO of Telegram, was apprehended at Bourget airport near Paris on Saturday evening, according to sources reported by TF1 TV and BFM TV.

Telegram, a major social media platform, is especially influential in Russia, Ukraine, and former Soviet republics. Founded by Russian-born Durov and based in Dubai, Telegram aims to hit one billion users next year. Durov left Russia in 2014 after refusing to shut down opposition communities on VK, a platform he subsequently sold.

According to TF1, Durov was traveling aboard his private jet when he was detained due to a French arrest warrant related to a preliminary police investigation. The investigation centers on the lack of moderators on Telegram, which police suspect allows criminal activities to go unchecked.

Telegram did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. French authorities similarly withheld comments. Since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Telegram has been pivotal for unfiltered content from both sides, serving as a primary communication channel for Ukrainian President Zelenskiy and the Kremlin.

Although facing governmental pressures, Durov insists that Telegram, now with 900 million users, remains neutral and not a participant in geopolitical dynamics. The Russian embassy in France said it had yet to be contacted by Durov's team but was taking immediate steps to resolve the situation.

Ulyanov, Russia's representative to international organizations, and several Russian politicians quickly condemned France, with Ulyanov warning that influential figures are not safe in increasingly totalitarian countries. Calls for protests at French embassies worldwide have been made by Russian bloggers.

(With inputs from agencies.)