Telegram Founder Pavel Durov Arrested in Paris Amid International Uproar

Pavel Durov, founder of Telegram, was arrested at a Paris airport, sparking a diplomatic tussle between Moscow and Paris and criticism from Elon Musk. The arrest is part of an investigation into Telegram's moderation policies. Durov, a dual citizen, faces possible indictment amid calls for ensuring his rights.

Pavel Durov, the Russian-born billionaire who founded and owns Telegram, was detained upon landing at Le Bourget airport near Paris. This incident, reported by sources to Reuters, led to warnings from Moscow demanding his rights be protected and criticism from Elon Musk regarding free speech in Europe.

Durov, who holds dual French and UAE citizenship, is under preliminary investigation for allegedly enabling various crimes through insufficient Telegram moderation. Russian lawmaker Maria Butina considers him a political prisoner targeted by the West for not complying with authorities.

Telegram, headquartered in Dubai and boasting close to a billion users, has faced regulatory scrutiny in Europe. Durov, valued at $15.5 billion by Forbes, has always maintained the platform should remain neutral and has accused multiple governments of trying to coerce him.