France has detained Pavel Durov, the Russian-born founder of Telegram, for a second day of questioning over allegations related to his messaging app. Durov, who maintains he has “nothing to hide,” was held after arriving at Le Bourget airport near Paris late Saturday.
The 39-year-old tech icon’s detention has been extended by a French investigating magistrate beyond the initial period. This phase of detention can last up to 96 hours, after which the judge will decide whether to release Durov or bring formal charges.
Durov, who is worth an estimated $15.5 billion according to Forbes, faces accusations from Russia of “refusing to cooperate.” Elon Musk has publicly defended Durov, calling for his release. Durov holds multiple nationalities, including French.
Recently based in Dubai, Durov had arrived in Paris from Baku, Azerbaijan, and was planning a dinner in the city. He was accompanied by his bodyguard and personal assistant.
The French OFMIN office, which deals with violence against minors, had issued a warrant for Durov in a preliminary investigation into allegations including fraud, drug trafficking, cyberbullying, organized crime, and terrorism promotion. Durov is accused of failing to address criminal misuse of Telegram.
Telegram responded, stating that “Durov has nothing to hide and travels frequently in Europe.” The platform asserts compliance with EU laws and industry standards and dismisses claims that it or its owner are responsible for the misuse of the platform.
Russian President Vladimir Putin had also been in Baku recently, but Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied a meeting with Durov.
Telegram, founded by Durov in 2013 after his departure from VKontakte (VK) in Russia, has gained popularity for its video capabilities but faces criticism for hosting illegal content and facilitating drug transactions.
Peskov stated that Moscow has not been informed of the charges against Durov. Meanwhile, Musk has voiced support with the hashtag #FreePavel, and US whistleblower Edward Snowden condemned the detention as an “assault on basic human rights.”
Durov’s decision to travel to France, despite knowing he was wanted, has raised questions. Telegram promotes itself as a neutral alternative to US-owned platforms and plays a significant role in the Ukraine-Russia conflict, with its app being used by both Ukrainian officials and pro-war Russian bloggers.
In a recent interview, Durov emphasized his mission to help people express their freedoms through his platform, stating, “My hope was that they could express their freedoms. This is the mission of Telegram.”
