Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, is awaiting a critical decision on Wednesday that will determine whether he faces charges and potentially remains in custody following his recent arrest by French authorities.
Durov, 39, was detained at Le Bourget airport near Paris on Saturday night. His detention has been extended multiple times, with French judicial authorities taking full advantage of the 96-hour maximum detention period allowed by law.
This development stems from an investigation launched on July 8, focusing on 12 allegations against Durov, including his failure to prevent extremist content on Telegram, according to sources close to the case.
Durov, who left Russia about ten years ago, founded Telegram, which has since seen explosive growth, amassing over 900 million users worldwide. Known for his reclusive nature, Durov holds citizenship in Russia, France, and the United Arab Emirates, where Telegram is headquartered.
Despite his estimated fortune of $15.5 billion, as reported by Forbes, Durov leads an ascetic lifestyle, abstaining from alcohol and coffee, and is a proponent of practices like ice baths.
The timing and circumstances of his arrest have raised eyebrows, especially since Durov flew into Paris despite being aware of a warrant against him.
French President Emmanuel Macron addressed the situation in a rare public comment on a legal matter, stating on X that Durov’s arrest was part of an ongoing judicial investigation and was not politically motivated.
In Russia, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov called the charges serious and stressed the need for substantial evidence. He warned that without solid proof, this could be seen as an attempt to limit communication freedom and intimidate the head of a major company.
The UAE has also expressed its concern, requesting consular access to Durov, who is a citizen of the country.
Support for Durov has been pouring in, with Elon Musk, CEO of X, tweeting under the hashtag #FreePavel.
As the initial 96-hour detention period comes to an end, the investigating magistrate has several options: release Durov, press charges and keep him in custody, or release him under judicial control with possible movement restrictions.
Durov, who has been living in Dubai, was on a trip from Baku to Paris when he was arrested. He was accompanied by his bodyguard and personal assistant at the time, according to sources familiar with the case.
An arrest warrant was issued by France’s OFMIN, which is responsible for preventing violence against minors, as part of an investigation into alleged offenses such as fraud, drug trafficking, cyberbullying, organized crime, and promoting terrorism.
Telegram responded by stating that Durov has nothing to hide and that he travels frequently across Europe. The platform also emphasized its compliance with EU laws, including the Digital Services Act, and dismissed claims that Durov or the platform could be held accountable for misuse.
Telegram has carved out a niche as a “neutral” alternative to US-based platforms, which have faced criticism for exploiting users’ personal data for commercial gain. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Telegram has been a key communication tool, used by both sides of the conflict.
However, the platform has also faced criticism for hosting illegal content, including extreme sexual material, disinformation, and narcotics-related services.
