Sharjah 24 – Reuters: Pavel Durov, the Russian-born founder of Telegram, was arrested in France as part of a judicial investigation, with no political motive involved, according to French President Macron on Monday. Macron’s statement on X confirmed Durov's arrest at Le Bourget airport near Paris after arriving on a private jet from Azerbaijan.
Speculation about the arrest arose due to a lack of official confirmation, but Macron emphasized that it was strictly a legal matter, not a political decision. Durov is under investigation by French authorities for failing to cooperate in cyber and financial crime investigations related to Telegram. He remains in custody, and his lawyer has not been reached for comment.
The arrest drew criticism from X owner Elon Musk and calls from Moscow for Durov's rights to be respected. Tensions between France and Russia have been rising, with French authorities accusing Russia of attempts to destabilize the country ahead of the Paris Olympics—claims Russia denies.
Durov, holding dual French and UAE citizenship, is estimated by Forbes to have a fortune of $15.5 billion. Telegram, which Durov founded after leaving Russia in 2014, stated that the company abides by EU laws and that it is "absurd" to hold the platform or its owner responsible for misuse. The Kremlin has yet to see official charges and the Russian embassy in Paris reported difficulties in obtaining consular access to Durov.
Durov, who became a French citizen in 2021 through a special procedure for high-profile foreigners, has not lived in France, raising questions about his connection to the country. The French Foreign Ministry and the Elysee declined to comment on the case.
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