Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of Telegram, is expected to learn Wednesday whether he will face charges or be remanded in detention following his weekend arrest by French police for suspected infractions at the messaging app.
Durov, 39, was detained late Saturday at Le Bourget airport outside Paris, and while court officials have frequently prolonged his original imprisonment period, it is limited to 96 hours.
According to sources close to the investigation, Durov is being examined on suspicion of 12 charges relating to failing to control extremist content on Telegram, as part of a confidential investigation that began on July 8.
A decade ago, the internet billionaire was about to leave his native Russia when he established Telegram. Its popularity has grown at an exponential rate, with over 900 million users.
Durov, an enigmatic character who rarely speaks in public, is a citizen of Russia, France, and the UAE, where Telegram is headquartered.
Forbes magazine estimates his current income at $15.5 billion, despite the fact that he publicly advocates an ascetic lifestyle that includes cold baths and abstaining from alcohol and caffeine.
Numerous doubts have been raised concerning the timing and circumstances of Durov’s incarceration, including why he flew into Paris with a warrant against him.
French President Emmanuel Macron stated in a post on X that Durov’s detention “took place as part of an ongoing judicial investigation” in response to what he called “false information” about the case.
“This is in no sense a political decision. In a rather unusual statement on a court case, he wrote, “It is up to the judges to rule.”
In Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that the charges were extremely serious and required “no less serious evidence”.
“Otherwise this would be a direct attempt to restrict freedom of communication, and, I might even say, directly intimidate the head of a large company,” he told me.
Meanwhile, the UAE stated that it is “closely following the case” and has requested consular access for one of its citizens.
Elon Musk, a fellow tech tycoon and CEO of X, has also expressed support for Durov, posting comments with the hashtag #FreePavel.
When the initial 96-hour interrogation period expires, the investigating magistrate can either release Durov or prosecute him and hold him in detention.
He might possibly be released under judicial supervision, which could entail limitations on his movements.
Durov, who has recently lived in Dubai, came in Paris from Baku, Azerbaijan, and planned to have supper in the French capital, according to a source familiar with the matter.
He was accompanied by a bodyguard and a personal assistant who always travel with him, according to the source, who requested anonymity.
Russian President Vladimir Putin was in Baku on a state visit to Azerbaijan on August 18 and 19, although Peskov denied that the two met.
France’s OFMIN, which is in charge of preventing violence against minors, issued an arrest warrant for Durov as part of a preliminary investigation into alleged crimes such as fraud, drug trafficking, cyberbullying, organized crime, and terrorism promotion.
In response, Telegram stated that “Durov has nothing to hide and travels frequently in Europe”.
“Telegram abides by EU laws, including the Digital Services Act — its moderation is within industry standards,” a spokesperson said.
“It is absurd to claim that a platform or its owner are responsible for abuse of that platform.”
Telegram has positioned itself as a “neutral” alternative to US-owned platforms that have been chastised for commercially exploiting users’ personal information.
