Telegram founder arrested in France on criminal charges

French authorities issued an arrest warrant for Durov, citing his failure to moderate content on Telegram and cooperate with law enforcement.

The 39-year-old billionaire was taken into custody after his private jet landed from Azerbaijan. French media reported that Durov would likely be placed in pre-trial detention.

An anonymous investigator quoted by TF1 said that Durov had allowed "an incalculable number of offenses and crimes to be committed" on his platform without taking sufficient measures to moderate content or cooperate with law enforcement.

Telegram, a widely used encrypted messaging app, has become a key platform for sharing information about the war in Ukraine. It is also reportedly used by the Russian military for communication.

The arrest of Durov has sparked international attention, with Russian officials expressing concern about the potential political motivations behind the move. Deputy Russian State Duma Speaker Vladislav Davankov appealed to Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to seek Durov's release, arguing that the arrest may be a tool to gain access to the personal information of Telegram users.

Durov, who became a naturalized French citizen in 2021, has been based in Dubai in recent years. He has previously faced legal challenges in Russia due to his refusal to cooperate with security services. (ILKHA)