Russian French billionaire founder and CEO of Telegram messaging app Pavel Durov was arrested on Saturday in France after his private jet landed at Bourget Airport in Paris. This was reported by TF1 TV and BFM TV, referencing sources that are unknown.
Telegram CEO was travelling aboard on his private jet, TF1 said on its website, adding he had been singled out by an arrest warrant in as part of an initial police investigation in France.
According to both TF1 and BFM, the inquiry was centered on Telegram’s lack of moderators, and authorities believed that this circumstance permitted criminal activities to continue unchecked on the messaging app.
According to French media it is possible that Durov might get charged on Sunday.
Regarding the arrest of Durov, Telegram has not yet released a statement, nor have the French Interior Ministry or police commented on the incident. Meanwhile The Russian Foreign Ministry has called on Western non-governmental organizations to support Durov’s release and said that its embassy in Paris is looking for explanation on the matter.
The Telegram founder was charged with multiple offense like fraud, cyberbullying, organized crime and drug trafficking by French agency OFMIN, which is responsible for putting a stop to violence against minors. Furthermore, according to these accusations, Durov ignored the negative things going on Telegram. According to speculations in the French media, Durov might be charged as early as this Sunday.
Users of X disclosed that confidential information has been published on Telegram by anti-Israel hackers who stole gigabytes of private Israeli data. Telegram has turned down Israel’s request to suppress the content.
Tucker Carlson, an American television host, tweeted on X after learning of Durov’s arrest, “Pavel Durov sits in a French jail tonight, a living warning to any platform owner who refuses to censor the truth at the behest of governments and intel agencies.”
The app, which is extensively used by both the Russian government and President Volodymyr Zelenskiy of Ukraine, has turned into what some experts refer to as “a virtual battlefield” for the war.
Regarding Durov’s detention, Billionaire Elon Musk, owner of X, previously known as Twitter, said, “It’s 2030 in Europe and you’re being executed for liking a meme.”
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