Who is Pavel Durov: The Arrest of Telegram’s Founder in France Explained

Who is Pavel Durov?

Pavel Durov is a notable entrepreneur, born in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
He will celebrate his 40th birthday on October 10.
Growing up in a family that valued education—his father was a professor of Latin—Durov spent his formative years in Turin until 2001, before returning to Russia to complete a degree in philology.

With a distinct libertarian philosophy, Durov is a father to two children but is not married.
He first gained attention in 2006 by launching VK, a social media platform in Russia.
However, VK’s growing popularity attracted the scrutiny of Russian authorities, leading Durov to sell his shares and exit the company.

After gaining citizenship in Saint Kitts and Nevis, Durov co-founded Telegram in 2013 with his brother.
The messaging app rapidly evolved into a significant competitor to WhatsApp, boasting about 900 million users.
Telegram is estimated to generate hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue due to its unique advertising model and potential investment evaluations exceeding 30 billion dollars.

Why was Pavel Durov arrested?

Pavel Durov holds French citizenship as well and was arrested at Le Bourget Airport near Paris on August 24 after disembarking from his private jet coming from Azerbaijan.

The arrest warrant was issued because Durov allegedly refused to cooperate with French authorities, who are investigating claims that Telegram’s encryption and content moderation inadequacies enable activities such as terrorism, drug trafficking, fraud, and money laundering.

Durov is accused of complicity in users’ criminal activities through the app.
Additionally, scrutiny over his historical relations with the Kremlin has raised further questions.

Telegram employs end-to-end encryption for its communications and emphasizes user privacy, distinguishing it from competitors frequently criticized for exploiting personal data.
Durov’s arrest seems to stem from this approach to user confidentiality.

In response, Telegram asserts compliance with EU laws, including the Digital Services Act, arguing their moderation practices meet industry standards.
The French Interior Ministry and police have remained silent on the arrest, deepening the intrigue surrounding this legal situation.