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Pavel Durov, the Russian-born mastermind behind Telegram, faced another day of intense questioning in French custody on Monday, as authorities dug deeper into the controversial messaging app’s alleged wrongdoing. Despite the scrutiny, Telegram maintained that its founder had nothing to conceal.
The unanticipated arrest of Pavel Durov upon his arrival at Le Bourget airport on Saturday evening has thrust the renowned tech entrepreneur into the spotlight once again.
A source close to the investigation revealed that the investigating magistrate has prolonged Pavel Durov’s detention, allowing authorities to continue questioning the 39-year-old tech mogul beyond Sunday night, with the possibility of extending it up to 96 hours.
As the 96-hour detention period reaches its end, the judge will have two options: to grant Pavel Durov his freedom or to press charges, potentially leading to his ongoing detention, a decision that will have significant implications for the billionaire founder of Telegram.
Moscow has lashed out at Paris, accusing the French government of stonewalling cooperation in the Durov affair, even as SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has jumped to the Telegram founder’s defense, demanding his freedom.
Durov’s dual citizenship, including his French passport, adds a complex layer to the unfolding drama.
Durov, who has been based in Dubai in recent years, arrived in Paris from the Azerbaijani capital Baku, and was planning to have dinner in the French capital, a source close to the case said.
He was accompanied by a bodyguard and a personal assistant who always travel with him, added the source, asking not to be named.
According to a source, France’s Office for the Prevention of Violence Against Minors (OFMIN) had issued an arrest warrant for Pavel Durov as part of a preliminary investigation into various alleged offenses, including fraud, drug trafficking, cyberbullying, organized crime, and promotion of terrorism.
The messaging platform defended its founder, stating that Durov has no skeletons in his closet and often visits various European destinations, casting doubt on the legitimacy of the charges against him.
Pavel Durov faces allegations of neglecting to implement measures to prevent the illicit utilization of his platform, Telegram, by criminal entities.
“Telegram abides by EU laws, including the Digital Services Act — its moderation is within industry standards,” it added. “It is absurd to claim that a platform or its owner are responsible for abuse of that platform.”
Coincidentally, Russian President Vladimir Putin was also in Baku, Azerbaijan, on August 18-19 for a state visit, but Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov refuted claims that Putin and Durov had met during their overlapping stays.
After his first project, VKontakte (VK), a Russian social network, encountered ownership issues that Durov believed were orchestrated by the Kremlin, he went on to found Telegram in 2013 and later relocated from Russia in 2014.
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Telegram’s soaring popularity can be attributed, in part, to its user-friendly interface, which facilitates seamless video sharing and viewing on its messaging “channels”, making it an attractive platform for users.
However, Telegram has faced intense scrutiny from critics who allege that the platform has become a haven for illicit content, including explicit material, misinformation, and even narcotics trafficking.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov expressed bewilderment over Pavel Durov’s detention, stating that Moscow had received no official explanation from French authorities regarding the charges against him, leaving Russia in the dark about the specific allegations.
Musk, the influential leader of Tesla and X, joined the chorus of voices demanding Durov’s release by posting #FreePavel on X, and emphasizing the importance of freedom with a poignant message in French: “Liberte Liberte! Liberte?” – a call to action for all who value liberty.
The US whistleblower, who found asylum in Russia, denounced the detention of Durov as a “brazen assault” on fundamental human rights, including the freedom to speak and associate.
Snowden expressed disappointment that Paris had resorted to “coercive tactics” to access private communications, likening it to “hostage-taking”.
