Telegram CEO Pavel Durov has been taken into custody by French authorities at an airport near Paris.
Reports from French media indicate that Durov was detained following the landing of his private jet at Le Bourget Airport.
The 39-year-old was reportedly arrested on the basis of a warrant connected to charges related to the widely-used messaging app, according to officials. The nature of the charges remains unclear at this time.
Russia’s embassy in France is working “swiftly” to obtain further details about the arrest, as reported by Russia’s TASS state news agency.
French television network TF1 also confirmed that Durov had been traveling on his private jet at the time of his detention.
The incident has sparked widespread media attention, particularly given Durov’s high-profile role in the tech world.
Telegram enjoys strong popularity in Russia, Ukraine, and other former Soviet nations.
The app was initially banned in Russia in 2018 after Durov refused to grant authorities access to user data, though the ban was later lifted in 2021.
Telegram has since grown into a global social media powerhouse, known for its encryption features and privacy-focused approach.
Today, Telegram ranks among the leading social media platforms, following major players such as Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok, and WeChat.
Durov originally launched Telegram in 2013. The following year, he left Russia after defying government orders to close down opposition groups on his social media platform VKontakte, which he eventually sold.
His continued defiance of governmental pressure has positioned him as a vocal advocate for privacy and digital freedoms. You can Read more details here.
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