Telegram founder expected to learn fate after arrest in France

Durov, 39, was arrested Saturday night at Le Bourget airport outside Paris. Although judicial authorities have repeatedly extended his initial detention period, it could last up to 96 hours. As part of an investigation that was opened confidentially on July 8, Durov is being investigated on suspicion of 12 offences relating to failing to curb extremist content on Telegram, sources close to the investigation said. The tech mogul founded Telegram after leaving his native Russia a decade ago. Its growth has been exponential, with the app now boasting more than 900 million users. An enigmatic figure who rarely speaks in public, Durov is a citizen of Russia, France and the United Arab Emirates, where Telegram is based. Forbes magazine estimates his current fortune at $15.5 billion, although he proudly promotes the virtues of an ascetic lifestyle, including ice baths and abstaining from alcohol and coffee. Numerous questions have been raised about the timing and circumstances of Durov’s arrest, particularly why he flew to Paris when he apparently knew there was a warrant out for his arrest. ‘Not political in any way’ In a post on X to respond to what he called “false information” about the case, French President Emmanuel Macron said Durov’s arrest “took place as part of an ongoing judicial investigation”. “This is not a political decision in any way. It is up to the judges to decide,” he wrote in a highly unusual commentary on a trial. In Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the charges were extremely serious and therefore required “no less serious evidence”. “Otherwise, this would be a direct attempt to restrict freedom of communication and, I might even say, directly intimidate the director of a major company,” he said. The UAE, meanwhile, said it was “closely following the case” and had requested consular access for its citizens. Among those voicing support for Durov is tech magnate and X CEO Elon Musk, who has posted comments under the hashtag #FreePavel. ‘Nothing to hide’ Once the initial 96-hour interrogation period is over, the investigating judge could release Durov or press charges and remand him in custody. He could also be released under judicial supervision, which could include restrictions on his movement. Durov, who has lived in Dubai in recent years, arrived in Paris from the Azerbaijani capital Baku and planned to have dinner in the French capital, a source close to the matter said. He was accompanied by a bodyguard and a personal assistant who always travel with him, the source added, who asked not to be named. Russian President Vladimir Putin was in Baku on August 18-19 for a state visit to Azerbaijan, though Peskov has denied the two met. France’s OFMIN, an agency tasked with preventing violence against minors, has issued an arrest warrant for Durov in a preliminary investigation into alleged crimes including fraud, drug trafficking, cyberbullying, organized crime and promoting terrorism. Telegram said in response that “Durov has nothing to hide and travels regularly in Europe.” “Telegram complies with EU law, including the Digital Services Act — its moderation falls within industry standards,” it added. “It is absurd to claim that a platform or its owner is responsible for the abuse of that platform.” Telegram has positioned itself as a “neutral” alternative to US platforms, which have been criticized for commercially exploiting users’ personal data. It has also played a prominent role since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, actively used by politicians and commentators on both sides of the war. But critics accuse it of frequently hosting illegal content, ranging from extreme sexual imagery to disinformation and drug services.