French authorities arrest Telegram chief Pavel Durov at Paris airport

The founder and director of the popular encrypted messaging service Telegram has been arrested at a Paris airport, French media reported on Sunday.

Pavel Durov was detained at Paris-Le Bourget airport on Saturday evening after arriving in France from Azerbaijan, broadcasters LCI and TF1 reported.

Detectives from France’s Anti-Fraud Office, which is attached to customs, told him he would be taken into police custody, broadcasters reported.

French prosecutors declined to comment on Mr Durov’s arrest when contacted on Sunday by the Associated Press news agency, under the rules of an ongoing investigation.

According to French media, an arrest warrant has been issued by France for the 39-year-old man, alleging that his encrypted platform was used for money laundering, drug trafficking and sharing content related to the sexual exploitation of minors.

Western governments have often criticized Telegram for the messaging service’s lack of content moderation.

Russian officials expressed outrage at Mr Durov’s arrest, with some highlighting what they called the West’s double standards when it comes to freedom of expression.

Maria Zakharova from the Russian Foreign Ministry wrote in a post on her personal Telegram account: “In 2018, a group of 26 NGOs, including Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, Freedom House, Reporters Without Borders, the Committee to Protect Journalists and others, condemned the Russian court’s decision to block Telegram.

“Do you think this time they will appeal to Paris and demand Durov’s release?”