Pavel Durov, the Russian-born tech entrepreneur and CEO of Telegram, has been detained in France, as confirmed by French authorities on Sunday. Reports indicate that his detention is linked to alleged violations concerning the social media platform. The Russian Embassy in Paris stated that it has sought consular access to Durov and urged French authorities to protect his rights.
The embassy noted in a statement that French officials have yet to engage cooperatively on this matter, and they are in communication with Durov’s legal representative. Paris authorities plan to release a statement regarding the situation on Monday.
Once likened to a Russian version of Mark Zuckerberg, Durov left Russia in 2014 after he lost control of his social network, VKontakte, for refusing to share data on Ukrainian opposition groups with government agencies. He was reportedly detained after arriving in France from Azerbaijan on a private jet.
In response, Russia has sent a diplomatic note pressing for access to Durov’s case, with officials emphasizing his French citizenship as his primary nationality. Durov, who resides in Dubai, holds dual citizenship in the United Arab Emirates and France, though it is uncertain if he renounced his Russian citizenship. His wealth is estimated at approximately $15.5 billion.
French media reported that Durov’s arrest stems from a preliminary investigation into Telegram’s content moderation practices and its alleged facilitation of criminal activities. The investigation is examining the platform’s reluctance to cooperate with law enforcement on issues such as child pornography, cyber scams, and organized crime.
Telegram has stated that it complies with EU laws and has moderation practices aligned with industry standards. The company emphasized that Durov has nothing to hide and frequently travels throughout Europe, dismissing claims of accountability for the misuse of the platform.
The unregulated nature of Telegram has attracted groups that may be banned on other social media sites, including far-right organizations and criminal networks. Additionally, its encrypted messaging services have made it a preferred tool for criminal syndicates and terrorist groups, complicating law enforcement efforts.
Critics have pointed to the platform’s use by groups like Hamas, which has shared distressing videos of conflicts to frame its militants as freedom fighters. In the past, Russia attempted to ban Telegram due to Durov’s refusal to provide access to users’ messages for government surveillance, but has since utilized the platform for communication during its ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Durov has faced backlash for his comments on other encryption services and has stressed that his platform aims to remain neutral in geopolitical matters. His recent detention has drawn attention from both Russian officials and right-wing commentators in the U.S., who have criticized what they view as a hypocrisy in Western free speech standards.
Russian lawmaker Andrei Klishas condemned the French government’s actions, while former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev described Durov’s arrest as a warning to entrepreneurs fleeing Kremlin pressure. Meanwhile, figures like Elon Musk and Tucker Carlson have used the situation to highlight concerns over free speech globally, with Carlson noting the irony of a Western country detaining Durov for allowing public discourse.