Telegram founder Pavel Durov arrested at Paris Airport
Founder and CEO of Telegram Pavel Durov delivers a keynote speech during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain February 23, 2016. (Reuters Photo)
Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of Telegram, was arrested at Paris Le Bourget Airport on the evening of August 24, 2024. The arrest occurred as Durov disembarked from his private jet, following a search warrant issued by authorities.
The operation was reportedly carried out by French secret services, though this information has not been officially confirmed. The arrest took place around 8 p.m., according to local reports. Durov, 39, was accompanied by his bodyguard and a woman at the time of his arrest, as reported by French outlet TF1 Info.
Telegram’s cryptocurrency Toncoin (TON), plunged 13% following the arrest.
The precise charges against Durov have not been disclosed, and authorities have yet to provide details regarding the evidence that led to the search warrant. The circumstances surrounding his arrest remain unclear, raising significant questions about the potential implications for Durov and his company.
Durov, born on October 10, 1984, in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg), Russia, is a prominent figure in the technology and media sectors. He is best known for founding the social networking site VKontakte (VK) and the widely used messaging app Telegram.
VK, which Durov co-founded with his brother Nikolai in 2006, became Russia’s most popular social network. However, Durov’s tenure at VK was marked by conflicts with Russian authorities over content censorship and data demands. In 2014, under increasing pressure, he was compelled to sell his stake in VK and leave the company.
Following his departure from VK, Durov and his brother launched Telegram in 2013. The cloud-based messaging app has gained significant global traction since its inception.
