Telegram CEO Pavel Durov is set to appear in court on Sunday after his arrest at Paris’ Le Bourget airport on Saturday night.
The 39-year-old Franco-Russian billionaire was taken into custody for alleged offenses related to his popular messaging app.
According to sources, Durov had arrived from Baku, Azerbaijan, and was planning to have dinner in Paris when he was arrested. Russia has expressed discontent with France’s handling of the situation, accusing the country of “refusing to cooperate” in the matter.”
An investigating magistrate was to decide later Sunday on a possible extension of Durov’s 24-hour detention.
Depending on that decision, he could be charged or released.
France’s OFMIN, an office tasked with preventing violence against minors, had issued an arrest warrant for Durov in a preliminary investigation into alleged offences including fraud, drug trafficking, cyberbullying, organised crime and promotion of terrorism, one source said.
Durov is accused of failing to take action to curb the criminal use of his platform.
“Enough of Telegram’s impunity,” said one investigator who expressed surprise that Durov flew to Paris knowing he was a wanted man.
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