The Kremlin has indicated that it will not comment on Telegram founder Pavel Durov’s arrest until an official statement regarding the charges has been released.
What Happened: The Kremlin announced on Monday that it is not yet privy to the details of the accusations against Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, who was detained by French law enforcement on Saturday, Reuters reported.
Durov, a billionaire born in Russia and the proprietor of the Telegram messaging app, was apprehended at Le Bourget airport just outside Paris shortly after his private jet landed late on Saturday.
“We do not yet know what exactly Durov is accused of,” stated Dmitry Peskov, a spokesperson for the Kremlin.
French media outlets reported that Durov remained in custody on Monday and was being interrogated by the police. However, his arrest has not been officially confirmed by Paris.
A source from the French police revealed that Durov’s arrest is linked to an investigation into allegations that his platform, due to a lack of moderation and cooperation with law enforcement, facilitated a wide range of criminal activities.
Telegram released a short statement sans any details of the arrest but added that the company abided by European Union laws and its moderation was “within industry standards and constantly improving”.
“Telegram’s CEO Pavel Durov has nothing to hide and travels frequently in Europe,” Telegram said.
“It is absurd to claim that a platform or its owner are responsible for abuse of that platform. We're awaiting a prompt resolution of this situation. Telegram is with you all.”
The encrypted Telegram app, headquartered in Dubai, boasts nearly 1 billion users and has significant influence in Russia, Ukraine, and the former Soviet Union republics. Durov left Russia in 2014 after refusing to comply with demands to shut down opposition communities on the VKontakte social media platform, which he also founded and has since sold.
Why It Matters: Durov’s arrest has sparked reactions from prominent figures in the cryptocurrency space, including Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin, who expressed concern over the future of software and communication freedom in Europe.
Earlier this year, following a terrorist attack on a concert venue in a Moscow suburb, the Kremlin warned Durov about Telegram’s alleged use for terrorist activities. Peskov publicly urged Durov to take more responsibility for the content on the messaging app.
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This story was generated using Benzinga Neuro and edited by Pooja Rajkumari
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