Telegram Founder Pavel Durov Arrested in France, Reportedly For Refusing to Censor Content

Pavel Durov left Russia when the government tried to control his social media company, Telegram. But in the end, it wasn’t Putin who arrested him for allowing the public to exercise free speech.

International media outlets are reporting that Pavel Durov, the billionaire founder and CEO of the encrypted messaging app Telegram, was arrested on Saturday evening, reportedly for refusing to censor content.

As outlined in the August 25th, 2024 Al Jazeera post, “Telegram messaging app CEO Pavel Durov arrested in France,” Durov, had been travelling on his private jet from Azerbaijan and that a French arrest warrant targeted him as part of a preliminary investigation.

The offences levelled at Durov by France’s OFMIN, an agency that deals with the prevention of violence against minors, include fraud, drug trafficking, cyberbullying, and organised crime, according to the AFP news agency, which quoted officials speaking on condition of anonymity.

The Franco-Russian billionaire is also accused of failing to take action against the harmful use of Telegram.

Durov faces possible indictment on Sunday, according to French media.

French television networks TF1 and BFMTV, both quoting unidentified …