France Extends Detention of Telegram Head Pavel Durov
French judicial authorities have extended the detention of Pavel Durov, the Russian-born founder of the messaging app Telegram, following his arrest at Le Bourget airport near Paris over allegations concerning his platform, The Guardian reports, citing sources close to the probe.
Durov, aged 39, was taken into custody after arriving in Paris from Baku on his private jet on Saturday evening. The investigating magistrate decided to extend his detention beyond the original deadline set for Sunday night. The questioning phase can last up to a maximum of 96 hours, after which the judge can either release Durov or press charges and keep him in custody.
France issued a warrant for Durov’s arrest as part of an inquiry into such claims as fraud, drug trafficking, organized crime, promotion of terrorism, and cyberbullying. He faces accusations of failing to take necessary actions to prevent the criminal use of his platform.
In response, Telegram released a statement asserting that the platform complies with EU laws, including the Digital Services Act.
“Telegram’s CEO Pavel Durov has nothing to hide and travels frequently in Europe. It is absurd to claim that a platform or its owner are responsible for abuse of that platform. We’re awaiting a prompt resolution of this situation,” the statement read.
Russian officials have accused France of “refusing to cooperate.” The Russian embassy in Paris has requested access to Durov, claiming France has “avoided engagement” regarding his situation.
Since its inception, Telegram has transitioned from being a standard messaging app to a robust social network, allowing one-on-one communication, group chats of up to 200,000 members, and the creation of broadcast channels. With some 950 million active monthly users, Telegram has established itself as a significant source of information on global events.
Durov currently resides in Dubai, where Telegram is headquartered, and holds citizenship in both France and the United Arab Emirates. The app offers end-to-end encrypted messaging, enabling users to create channels to share information with followers.
In related news, billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk shared a video clip highlighting Durov’s interview, where Durov praised Musk’s takeover of X as a “great development.” Musk tweeted in support of Durov with the hashtag “FreePavel” and followed up with a tweet stating, “Liberté! Liberté! Liberté?” signaling solidarity amid Durov’s legal troubles.
