PARIS:
Telegram CEO Pavel Durov remains in custody in France and is being investigated by the national cybercrime unit and the national fraud agency, a French police spokesman said on Monday.
Durov is accused of being passive when it comes to cybercrimes and financial crimes committed on the Telegram platform, the spokesman said.
Durov, 39, was arrested at Le Bourget airport outside Paris shortly after landing on a private jet late on Saturday.
According to Reuters, Durov’s arrest was based on an outstanding warrant in France. The investigation is being led by a specialist cyber security unit and the national anti-fraud police, overseen by a judge with experience in organized crime.
After the arrest, the Russian government issued a warning to France, demanding that Durov be given his legal rights.
Russia’s foreign ministry also requested access to Durov, despite his French citizenship. Russian MP Maria Butina called Durov a “political prisoner”, arguing that his arrest was part of a Western “witch hunt”.
Also read: Who is Pavel Durov? Telegram’s $15 billion founder and father of over 100 children
In response, Telegram released a statement claiming that it complies with European Union laws, including the Digital Services Act.
The company defended Durov, saying he has nothing to hide and travels frequently across Europe.
Telegram rejected claims that the platform or its owner should be held accountable for any misuse of the service, reaffirming its commitment to user privacy and freedom of speech.
Founded by Durov in 2013 after he left Russia due to government pressure to shut down opposition groups on VK, Telegram has grown into one of the most influential messaging apps, with nearly 1 billion users.
The platform played a critical role during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, providing unfiltered content from both sides of the conflict.
However, its growing popularity has drawn scrutiny from European governments over concerns about security and data breaches.
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