Arrest and indictment of Pavel Durov

Arrest and indictment of Pavel Durov
Portrait of Russian billionaire Internet entrepreneur Pavel Durov at TechCrunch Disrupt Europe, Berlin, 2013
Date24 August 2024 (2024-08-24)
Time20:00 (CEST)
LocationParis–Le Bourget Airport
CauseTelegram Messenger moderation policy
TargetPavel Durov
ParticipantsJulia Vavilova[1]
OutcomeIndicted on 28 August 2024, placed under judicial supervision, banned from leaving France
ChargesTwelve charges, including complicity in child sexual exploitation and drug trafficking on Telegram due to insufficient moderation

On 24 August 2024, Pavel Durov, a co-founder of the Telegram messaging service and the social network VK, was arrested after landing at Le Bourget Airport.[2] The arrest was part of a preliminary investigation by the French National Judicial Police.[3][4][5] On 28 August, Durov was indicted on twelve charges, including complicity in the distribution of child exploitation material and drug trafficking, was barred from leaving France, and was placed under judicial supervision.[6]

The arrest of a technology platform CEO due to issues with Telegram moderation was described by University of Toronto policy researcher John Scott-Railton as "unprecedented". It prompted protest and outcry from free-speech activists and Telegram channels against the French government.[7][8][9] The arrest also led to a deterioration in French–Russian relations. Russian diplomats accused French authorities of refusing to give information on the arrest,[10] proposed measures to return Durov to Russia or the United Arab Emirates,[11] and said that French–Russian relations had "reached a nadir".[12]

  1. ^ "Стало известно, что с Дуровым при его задержании была девушка" [It became known that Durov was with his girlfriend when he was detained]. Gazeta.Ru (in Russian). 25 August 2024. Archived from the original on 1 September 2024. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  2. ^ Ataman, Joseph (24 August 2024). "Telegram CEO Pavel Durov detained at airport in France". CNN. Archived from the original on 25 August 2024. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  3. ^ "INFO TF1/LCI : le fondateur et PDG de la messagerie Telegram interpellé en France". TF1 INFO (in French). 24 August 2024. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  4. ^ Heller, Mathilda (25 August 2024). "Founder and CEO of Telegram arrested at French airport on multiple charges". Jerusalem Post. Archived from the original on 26 August 2024. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  5. ^ Badshah, Nadeem (25 August 2024). "Telegram app founder Pavel Durov reportedly arrested at French airport". The Guardian. Reuters. Archived from the original on 26 August 2024. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  6. ^ "Communiqué de presse" (PDF). Tribunal de grande instance de Paris. 28 August 2024. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 August 2024. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  7. ^ Hayden, Jones (25 August 2024). "Telegram CEO reportedly arrested at French airport". Politico. Archived from the original on 26 August 2024. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference :4 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Quénelle, Benjamin (26 August 2024). "Panic mounts on pro-war Russian Telegram channels after Pavel Durov's arrest". Le Monde. Archived from the original on 26 August 2024. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference :5 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference :11 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference :12 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).