Durov was arrested in France because of Telegram’s alleged role in facilitating criminal activities in the country
By Kehinde Okeowo
Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Telegram, Pavel Durov, was reportedly detained at Bourget Airport near Paris on Saturday, August 4 by the French government.
The billionaire’s arrest was reported by two French news outlets, TF1 and BFM TV.
Also reporting the incident, Reuters, noted that Durov, who was traveling on his private jet from Azerbaijan, was arrested under a French warrant related to a preliminary police investigation into Telegram’s alleged role in facilitating criminal activities.
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The 39-year-old Franco-Russian was accompanied by a bodyguard and a woman at the time of his arrest by the Air Transport Gendarmerie.
As at the time of filing this report, his company, Telegram is yet to officially speak or react to the unfolding development.
Similarly, the French Interior Ministry and police have not made any comment on the arrest of the tech owner.