Pavel Durov, the co-founder of the popular messaging application Telegram, was arrested this weekend in France, according to reports from French media

His arrest is linked to alleged offenses concerning how Telegram is moderated, as well as a supposed lack of cooperation with law enforcement, several sources indicate. Durov, who serves as CEO of the messaging platform, was reportedly apprehended at Le Bourget Airport, near Paris, upon his arrival on a private jet from Azerbaijan.

The accusations against him suggest that Telegram has been misused for money laundering, drug trafficking, and other illegal activities—assertions that he allegedly enabled through a lax approach to content moderation.

Here’s what you need to know about Durov and the messaging application he launched in 2013.

Who is Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram?

Durov, a 39-year-old billionaire originally from Russia, came into the spotlight in 2006 when he established VKontakte (VK), often regarded as the Russian equivalent of Facebook.

In 2013, he and his brother Nikolai launched Telegram. The following year, after refusing to provide Russian authorities with encrypted user data from VK, he left Russia. Now holding citizenship in both France and the United Arab Emirates, Durov oversees Telegram, which boasts hundreds of millions of users worldwide.

According to Forbes, his current net worth is approximately $15.5 billion, making him the 121st richest person globally.

Earlier this year, Durov participated in an interview with American broadcaster Tucker Carlson, where he emphasized that freedom of speech is one of his core values as a businessman.

He is also known for his active presence on Instagram, frequently sharing topless selfies that highlight his fit physique.

Key details about Durov’s arrest

Durov was detained on Saturday following an arrest warrant issued by France’s OFMIN, the agency tasked with protecting minors from violence.

The agency has accused him of not adequately addressing criminal activities on his platform, including drug trafficking, terrorism promotion, and fraud, according to news reports from AFP.

According to the French newspaper Le Monde, officials are investigating whether Durov failed to cooperate with law enforcement regarding probes into child pornography, online scams, organized crime, and other suspected illegal activities on Telegram.

Durov was still in custody on Monday for interrogation by French authorities, as reported by Reuters, although local law enforcement has not yet publicly confirmed the details of his arrest.

A police informant mentioned to Reuters that Durov was detained at an airport for private jets near Paris. The inquiry is led by a military cybersecurity unit, part of France’s law enforcement system, along with the national anti-fraud police.

In response to the incident, Telegram stated on Sunday that the platform complies with European Union laws and that its content moderation is up to “industry standards.”

“Telegram’s CEO Pavel Durov has nothing to conceal and frequently travels within Europe,” the company mentioned in a statement. “It’s ridiculous to suggest that either a platform or its owner should be held accountable for misuse of that platform.”

The Russian Embassy in France commented on social media platform X, requesting clarification regarding Durov’s arrest and advocating for his rights and the provision of consular access.

Musk and Other Free Speech Advocates React to Durov’s Arrest

The announcement of Durov’s arrest led to significant backlash from prominent advocates of free speech online, including Elon Musk.

Musk, who has championed a laissez-faire approach to content moderation since taking charge of X, tweeted “#FreePavel.” In another tweet, he remarked, “it’s 2030 in Europe, and you’re facing execution for simply liking a meme.”

Contributing: Reuters