Pavel Durov, Telegram CEO, Arrested in France on Serious Charges

The CEO of Telegram and a millionaire, Pavel Durov, was taken into custody on August 24, 2024, at Le Bourget Airport in Paris, France.

He was arrested while traveling from Azerbaijan with a female companion and his security. He was arrested by French authorities on the basis of an arrest warrant issued by the national directorate of the French judicial police, or OFMIN.

The warrant noted his suspected cooperation in different illegal operations enabled by the messaging platform, as well as his reluctance to cooperate with law enforcement.

Charges and Allegations

Pavel Durov, the billionaire founder and CEO of Telegram, was arrested on August 24, 2024, at Le Bourget Airport in Paris, France. His arrest occurred as he arrived from Azerbaijan, accompanied by a woman and his bodyguards.

French authorities detained him under an arrest warrant issued by the national directorate of the French judicial police, known as OFMIN, which cited his failure to cooperate with law enforcement and alleged complicity in various criminal activities facilitated through the messaging platform