Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of Telegram, has been arrested in France by agents of the National Anti-Fraud Office (ONAF). Durov, aged 39, was detained at Le Bourget airport on Saturday evening, shortly after arriving from Azerbaijan on his private jet. He was accompanied by a bodyguard and a woman, according to French news site TF1. 

Durov Faces Charges of Terrorism and Fraud Amid Allegations of Telegram’s Role in Crime

Durov was listed in the wanted persons file (FPR) due to allegations related to his platform’s role in enabling criminal activities. Durov was in the wanted person file (FPR) for some offenses that his site was instrumental in the commission of. French authorities procured this warrant following a preliminary investigation. The warrant was only legal if Durov was physically present in France. Therefore, when he visited France, he was arrested on the spot. Inside sources revealed that Durov hardly travels to Europe, especially knowing full well that he would encounter such legal entanglements.

The crimes for which Durov is accused are severe, and he is charged with terrorism, drug sales and delivery, fraud, and child abuse. Telegram, which is known for its highly secure messaging options and client-to-client encryption, has been accused of allegedly enabling crimes and/or vice. That is, the absence of moderation and collaboration in providing information on the members of the criminal organizations to the police has resulted in compromising Telegram’s reputation and turning it into a platform for the members of organized crime in France, as the French investigators have reported.

Durov expects to be interrogated by an investigating judge in a possible indictment on coming Sunday. They think that he will be detained until his trial as he has considerable financial means and can afford to flee the country. The arrest has thrown the international community into a state of surprise as it affects the fight against criminal activities on encrypted platforms.

Telegram Founder’s Arrest Triggers 20% Drop in TON Token, Musk, Carlson Voice Support for Detained Telegram CEO

Such news as Durov’s arrest has a significant impact on the cryptocurrency market as well. TON – the native token of The Open Network linked to Telegram – fell by almost 20% but later tried to regain some of the losses. The TON blockchain’s X account assured the community that it remains strong and fully operational despite Pavel Durov’s arrest. They emphasized their commitment to freedom of speech and decentralization. They stand firmly by Durov during this challenging time.

After Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, was arrested, many public figures have come out in support of the detained man. Celebrities like Elon Musk, the owner of X (previously Twitter), and American journalist Tucker Carlson expressed their support for Durov.

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