Telegram founder and owner, Pavel Durov is presently in a detention in France. According to Reuters, the Russian-descent billionaire was arrested at the Le Bourget Airport after arriving on a private jet on Saturday night.
While the French authorities are yet to confirm the arrest, Reuters quoted three sources; two French police officers and another respected Russian. More so, as per the report, the police officers revealed that Pavel Durov has been on the watchlist of the French authorities for a while.
Furthermore, they added that the enforcement agencies laid ambush at the airport upon realizing that the Telegram boss was on the passenger list of a private plane heading into the country from Azerbaijan. As revealed, the arrest surfaced as part of a prior police investigation into how Pavel Durov allegedly permitted a host of crimes on Telegram.
Additionally, the French police sources said the CEO failed to moderate the activities of users on the platform. Also, the authorities accused Pavel Durov of refusing to work with the police.
Another source added that the French national anti-fraud police and a cybersecurity unit are leading the investigative efforts. Meanwhile, the arrest of the billionaire who has dual citizenship in Russia and the United Arab Emirates has sparked a host of outcry.
Following his arrest, the Kremlin has warned the French government that Pavel Durov must be respected according to his rights. Similarly, the detention also attracted the attention of X owner, Elon Musk.
The billionaire upon hearing the news of the arrest opined that free speech is under attack in Europe. The business mogul said that with the level of hostility against free speech in the region, an individual could face execution for liking a meme in Europe in 2030.
How Telegram Responded To The Arrest
Meanwhile, Telegram has released a statement following the arrest of its CEO. The firm established that the social media platform abides by international regulations including EU laws.
Likewise, the firm disclosed that it is constantly improving to meet up with the dynamics of ensuring that Telegram remains safe for everyone. However, the company said its owner has nothing to hide which gives him the freedom to travel around Europe at his will.
Telegram submitted that it is absurd to tag the abuse of the platform with Pavel Durov. Consequently, the company revealed that it will continue to ensure that the social media outlet remains safe by upholding human rights.
Lastly, the firm added that it is awaiting a swift resolution of the situation.