Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of the Telegram messaging app, was arrested at Bourget airport outside Paris on Saturday evening.
Let us tell you that Telegram is quite influential in Russia, Ukraine and the republics of the former Soviet Union. Its goal is to ensure its reach to one billion users next year.
It was founded in Dubai by Russian-born Durov. In 2014, he refused to obey the government’s order to block opposition leaders on his VK social media platform. After this incident, he left Russia. He later sold this platform.
TF1 TV and BFM TV have quoted sources as saying in their reports that Durov was traveling on his private jet. He was earlier served an arrest warrant in France. The investigation was focused on the lack of moderators on Telegram.
Police believe that this is the reason why criminal activity has increased on the messaging app. No statement has been issued by Telegram on this incident so far.
After Russia launched its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Telegram became a primary source of unfiltered and sometimes graphic and misleading content from both sides about the politics of the war.
The app has become the preferred means of communication for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his officials. The Kremlin and the Russian government also use it to broadcast their news.
TF1 said Durov was travelling from Azerbaijan. He was arrested at around 8pm local time.
Durov’s property
According to Forbes, Durov has assets worth $15.5 billion. Some governments had tried to put pressure on him. Telegram has more than 90 crore users.
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