Telegram founder Pavel Durov was arrested at Le Bourget airport near Paris after arriving on a private jet from Azerbaijan on Saturday, according to French authorities.
The 39-year-old, who has dual French and UAE citizenship, was detained under an arrest warrant related to an investigation into Telegram's alleged failure to moderate content, potentially facilitating criminal activities.
Durov’s arrest sparked reactions from Moscow, warning Paris to respect Durov's rights.
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Telegram defended itself, stating that it complies with EU regulations and that Durov has "nothing to hide."
The investigation, led by French cybersecurity and anti-fraud units, is part of a broader probe into the app's role in organized crime.
Durov, who left Russia in 2014 after refusing to shut down opposition groups on his previous platform VK, created Telegram to be a neutral, encrypted messaging service.
With nearly one billion users, Telegram plays a significant role in Russia, Ukraine, and former Soviet republics, particularly as a platform for unfiltered war-related content.
Durov, valued at $15.5 billion, remains committed to keeping Telegram free from geopolitical influence.