France Arrested Telegram Owner Charging For Criminal Support

In an unprecedented move, France recently detained Telegram owner Pavel Durov and subsequently charged him with supporting criminal activities. Authorities also imposed travel restrictions on Durov within the country.

Telegram Owner Arrested And Charged In France

Reports indicate that France apprehended Pavel Durov, the owner, founder, and CEO of Telegram, immediately upon his arrival in French territory.

French media revealed that Durov flew into France on his private jet on a Saturday evening, only to be arrested by the French Police upon disembarking from the plane. The arrest took place on August 28, 2024, following an arrest warrant issued by the French National Judicial Police in March.

Politico provided exclusive insights, stating that French authorities had been conducting investigations into Telegram for some time. The investigations centered around Telegram’s non-cooperation with legal requests related to cases of child abuse.

Following the arrest, French authorities charged Durov with alleged involvement in illegal activities on Telegram, such as illicit gang transactions, drug trafficking, child abuse, and fraud.

Subsequently, Durov posted a €5 million bail with the condition of reporting to authorities twice a week and staying within the country.

Durov’s arrest sparked international outcry, particularly among privacy advocates, who viewed it as a threat to freedom of speech.

CNN reported that Russian authorities also criticized France’s actions. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova stated,

It seems to me that all this has once again shown the true attitude of the French leadership, which has blatantly violated international norms in protecting freedom of speech and expression, simply because if they are to uphold certain standards, they must not only adhere to them, but also protect and uphold them.

French President Emmanuel Macron also weighed in on the issue in his X post, describing it as a purely judicial matter.

The arrest of the president of Telegram on French soil occurred as part of an ongoing judicial investigation. It is not a political decision in any way. It is the prerogative of the judges to make a decision on the matter.

It remains uncertain how Durov’s arrest will impact the operations and reputation of Telegram. As the case progresses, more details may emerge online.

Durov’s arrest is not the first high-profile detention in a foreign country. In 2018, Canadian authorities arrested Huawei’s CFO for violating US sanctions on trade with Iran.

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