Pavel Durov, the Russian-born billionaire and founder of the popular messaging app Telegram, has been detained by French authorities at Le Bourget airport in Paris. His arrest comes in the wake of an inquiry into various alleged criminal activities facilitated through Telegram, including fraud, drug trafficking, organized crime, promotion of terrorism, and cyberbullying. Durov, who holds French and UAE citizenship, is expected to appear in court in the coming days.

The arrest, which took place on Saturday night as Durov arrived in Paris from Baku on his private jet, has drawn significant attention due to the high-profile nature of the case. French investigators had issued a warrant for Durov’s arrest, citing his failure to adequately address the criminal use of Telegram. One investigator expressed surprise at Durov’s decision to travel to Paris, despite being aware of the warrant. “Enough of Telegram’s impunity,” the investigator commented, reflecting growing frustration among European authorities regarding the platform’s perceived lack of oversight.

Telegram, which was founded by Pavel Durov and his brother Nikolai in 2013, initially started as a messaging app similar to WhatsApp but has since evolved into a more expansive social network. The app, which boasts 950 million active monthly users, allows one-to-one communication, group chats with up to 200,000 members, and the creation of broadcast channels followed by millions. This versatility has made Telegram a major source of information—and disinformation—especially concerning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

In recent years, Telegram has faced increasing scrutiny from Western governments due to its role in spreading hate speech, disinformation, and illegal content, including images of child abuse. The app’s end-to-end encryption and minimal moderation have made it a preferred platform for extremists, conspiracy theorists, and criminals. Investigative reports have labeled Telegram as an “ecosystem for the radicalization of opinion,” highlighting its use by various radical groups and Russian propagandists.

The arrest has sparked a diplomatic row between France and Russia, with Russian authorities accusing France of “refusing to cooperate” and demanding access to Durov. The Russian embassy in Paris criticized France for “avoiding engagement” on the matter, further complicating relations between the two countries.

Durov, who left Russia in 2014 after refusing to comply with Kremlin demands to shut down opposition groups on VK, a social network he founded at age 22, has since made Dubai his home. He praised the UAE for its business-friendly environment and “neutrality,” noting that Telegram faces little pressure to moderate content there, unlike in Western countries.

The arrest has also drawn reactions from prominent figures, including former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who suggested that Durov miscalculated by leaving Russia, thinking he would never have to cooperate with security services abroad. “For all our common enemies now, he is Russian—and therefore unpredictable and dangerous,” Medvedev remarked.

The incident has reignited debates over free speech and government censorship, with right-wing commentator Tucker Carlson describing Durov as “a living warning to any platform owner who refuses to censor the truth at the behest of governments and intel agencies.” Elon Musk, who previously praised Durov’s stance on free speech, reposted a clip from an interview in which Durov called for Telegram to remain a “neutral platform,” adding the hashtag “FreePavel.”

As the case unfolds, Durov’s future and the fate of Telegram remain uncertain, with potential implications for global tech governance and the ongoing struggle between free speech and platform accountability.