Telegram’s Pavel Durov arrested in France for criminal investigation

Pavel Durov, the Russian-born founder of Telegram, was arrested in France as part of an investigation into crimes linked to child pornography, drug trafficking, and fraudulent transactions on the platform. French prosecutors confirmed his detention on Monday.

French President Emmanuel Macron stated that Durov’s arrest at Le Bourget airport on Saturday evening had no political motive, despite misinformation online. Macron emphasised France’s commitment to lawful free speech, noting the arrest was part of an ongoing judicial probe with decisions left to judges.

Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau revealed that Durov, 39, was arrested following a July 8 probe into an unnamed individual by the cybercrime unit. The investigation involves suspected complicity in various crimes, including running an illicit online platform, child pornography, drug trafficking, fraud, money laundering, and providing cryptographic services to criminals. Durov can be held until Wednesday. Efforts to reach his legal representation were unsuccessful.

Telegram, similar to WhatsApp, boasts nearly 1 billion users, especially influential in Russia, Ukraine, and former Soviet republics. Durov’s arrest spurred criticism from X owner Elon Musk, who claimed free speech in Europe was under threat, and calls from Moscow for French authorities to respect Durov’s rights.

Tensions have escalated between France and Russia, with accusations from French authorities about Russia’s attempts to destabilise France ahead of the Paris Olympics, which Russia denies.

Pavel Durov, often compared to “Russia’s Mark Zuckerberg,” holds dual citizenship in France and the UAE. Forbes estimates his fortune at $15.5 billion. Durov has previously stated that governments have pressured him but insists Telegram remains neutral in geopolitics. Telegram provided no details of the arrest but maintained that they comply with EU laws and continuously improve their moderation.

The Kremlin noted it had yet to see any official French accusations against Durov. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov questioned the charges against Durov, stating it would be premature to make any statements without concrete accusations. The Russian embassy in Paris reported that French authorities had not cooperated with their consular access requests but were in contact with Durov’s lawyer.

Durov, a libertarian who left Russia in 2014 after refusing to shut down opposition communities on his VK platform, obtained French citizenship in 2021 via a fast-track procedure for high-profile individuals.

This process exempts them from standard residency requirements if they contribute significantly to France’s influence and international economic relations. Durov’s link to France remains unclear, though he recently praised France as a top holiday destination in a Telegram post.

The French foreign ministry, responsible for the citizenship procedure, did not comment. The Elysee presidential office also deferred to the foreign ministry. Durov’s naturalisation is rare, with only 10-20 cases processed annually, each requiring high-level political support.

Evan Spiegel, co-founder of Snapchat, received French citizenship in 2018 under the same programme. Durov reportedly holds citizenships from Russia and St Kitts and Nevis, though this remains unverified.