French authorities have extended the detention of Telegram’s CEO and founder, Pavel Durov, following his arrest at Le Bourget airport, near Paris on Saturday evening.
The Russian-born tech mogul was apprehended under a warrant
related to alleged offences connected to the widely used but controversial
messaging app, Telegram.
Durov, 39, was initially detained after arriving in Paris
from Baku, Azerbaijan, with plans to dine in the French capital.
He was accompanied by a bodyguard and a personal assistant
at the time of his arrest.
According to sources close to the investigation, Durov’s
detention has been extended beyond Sunday night by the investigating magistrate
handling the case.
Under French law, this initial period of detention for
questioning can last up to 96 hours, after which the judge may either release
Durov or press charges and remand him in further custody.
The arrest is the latest development in Durov’s high-profile
career, marked by his creation of one of the world’s most influential messaging
platforms.
France’s OFMIN, an office dedicated to preventing violence
against minors, issued the arrest warrant as part of a preliminary
investigation into alleged offences, including fraud, drug trafficking,
cyberbullying, organized crime, and the promotion of terrorism.
Durov is accused of failing to take sufficient action to
curb the criminal use of Telegram.
In response to the arrest, Russia has accused France of
“refusing to cooperate,” while fellow tech entrepreneur Elon Musk has come to
Durov’s defense.
Durov, who holds a French passport along with other nationalities,
has maintained his innocence.
A spokesperson for Telegram stated, “Durov has nothing to
hide and travels frequently in Europe.
He said that Telegram abides by EU laws, “including the
Digital Services Act — its moderation is within industry standards. It is
absurd to claim that a platform or its owner are responsible for abuse of that
platform.”
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