Durov was arrested on the tarmac of a Paris airport this saturday by French authorities, largely due to concerns about moderation of illicit commerce and harmful content displayed on Telegram’s platform, which engages with a reported +1 billion users worldwide.
The Russian-born businessman, a citizen of Russia, the UAE, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and France, has caused an international stir. His capture was branded a ‘politically motivated arrest’ by the Kremlin – despite some past criticisms Durov has made of the Putin government – and led to calls of ‘Free Pavel’ by X CEO Elon Musk, who stated that Durov had become a prisoner of the EU’s ongoing war on free speech.
Authorities have a myriad of concerns about Telegram and its use. This includes claims of criminal activity on the a..