France arrests Telegram CEO Pavel Durov near Paris.

Telegram CEO Pavel Durov was reportedly detained after being arrested at Bourget Airport outside Paris on the evening of August 24 (local time) as he disembarked from his private plane.

The Russian billionaire, based in Dubai, was arrested on a warrant related to a preliminary investigation, Reuters reported, citing local media.

French authorities believe that the platform's lack of censorship has "allowed criminal activity to go unchecked on this messaging app."

Mr. Durov will appear in court tonight, August 25 (local time), and could be indicted as early as the same day, according to sources at TF1, one of the two French media outlets cited by Reuters.

Telegram CEO Pavel Durov, 40, is linked to a preliminary investigation by French authorities. Photo: Daily Mail

The Russian embassy in France has taken the necessary steps to clarify the situation surrounding Mr. Durov's arrest, although representatives of the Telegram CEO have not yet contacted the diplomatic mission, the state news agency TASS quoted the Russian Foreign Ministry as saying early on August 25.

"Regarding information about Mr. Durov's arrest, the Russian Embassy in France immediately took the necessary steps in such a situation to clarify the circumstances surrounding a Russian citizen, even though the businessman's representative did not file a request," the Russian Foreign Ministry said, adding that this work had begun before the Deputy Speaker of the State Duma (Lower House) Vladislav Davankov contacted the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Earlier, Davankov had contacted Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov with a request to find ways to secure Durov's release, TASS reported.

Telegram, particularly influential in Russia, Ukraine, and former Soviet republics, ranks as one of the largest social media platforms after Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok, and WeChat. The platform aims to reach 1 billion users in the next year.

French television channels TF1 and BFM both reported that the investigation focuses on the lack of censorship on Telegram, and police believe this situation allowed criminal activity to occur unchecked on the messaging app.

Telegram did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment. The French Interior Ministry and French police declined to comment.

Since Russia launched its military campaign in Ukraine in 2022, Telegram has become a major source of unfiltered content – ​​and sometimes graphic and misleading – from both sides regarding the war and the politics surrounding the conflict, Reuters reports.

According to the news agency, the app has become a preferred communication tool for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Kiev officials. The Kremlin and the Russian government also use the app to share their news.

Minh Duc (Based on Reuters, The Verge, TASS)

Source: https://www.nguoiduatin.vn/chinh-quyen-phap-bat-giu-ceo-telegram-pavel-durov-gan-paris-204240825090933458.htm