Thought Leadership
The founder of the messaging service Telegram, Pawel Durow, has been arrested in France.
The Russian wanted in France was taken into police custody at Le Bourget airport on Saturday evening after his arrival from Azerbaijan, as reported by the broadcasters TF1 and BFMTV as well as other French media, citing investigative circles. The Russian embassy in France had already taken charge of the case, according to a statement from the Foreign Ministry in Moscow quoted by the Russian state news agency Tass.
According to French media reports, Durow was wanted in France because the authorities had launched preliminary investigations against him on suspicion that he was complicit in drug trafficking, fraud and child abuse offenses by failing to intervene in Telegram and failing to cooperate with law enforcement. According to TF1, a preliminary investigation against Durow could be opened on Sunday.
In view of the information about Durov’s arrest, the Russian embassy in France immediately took the steps that are necessary in such a situation, according to the statement from the foreign ministry published by Tass. Efforts are being made to clarify the situation, “although the businessman’s representatives have not submitted a request”.
Durov founded Telegram with his brother Nikolai after both had already launched the network Vk.com, a kind of Russian-language Facebook. Telegram is one of the most important online networks in Russia and is also used by many authorities and politicians for communication. In the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, the service is used by both sides to send messages.
Durov’s relationship with the Russian authorities is considered difficult. The sale of Vk.com took place under pressure. He had previously refused to pass on data on participants in the protest movement in Ukraine against then President Viktor Yanukovych to the Russian secret service. He himself fled Russia shortly afterwards.
The Durov brothers promise to protect the data of Telegram users. This is why the eccentric internet billionaire fell out with the Russian authorities years ago. But there are also accusations against the brothers in the West. The Telegram makers are accused of not taking sufficient action against hate speech and calls for violence. Western and Russian authorities are said to have succeeded in persuading Telegram to delete Islamist terrorist propaganda.
dpa
