Pavel Durov’s arrest: what is known at this time

Events

• On the evening of August 24, Pavel Durov was arrested at Le Bourget airport upon his arrival from Azerbaijan as part of a preliminary investigation, French television channels TF1 and BFM reported, citing unnamed sources.

• Law enforcement authorities suspect Telegram’s director of involvement in “drug trafficking, crimes against children and fraud,” indicating a lack of restraint and cooperation between the messenger’s management and the authorities.

• On Sunday, Durov could be charged with terrorism, including terrorism. The entrepreneur could face up to 20 years in prison in France. In 2021, the founder of Telegram received French citizenship.

• The value of Pavel Durov’s Toncoin cryptocurrency plummeted by 15% amid news of the Telegram founder’s arrest in France. Now the token’s value has dropped by more than 20% over the past 24 hours.

• The Russian embassy in France is taking steps to clarify the situation surrounding the detention of Pavel Durov, although his representatives have not lodged any appeal.

• The department added that it is in contact with the billionaire’s lawyer.

Opinions

• Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has called for the release of Pavel Durov on his X account.

• Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev said Durov had miscalculated by leaving Russia, writing that the Telegram chief was detained because “he is Russian and therefore unpredictable and dangerous.”

• The leader of the French Patriots party, Florian Philippot, said that by arresting Pavel Durov at Paris airport, France “showed the world its tyrannical nature.”

• The arrest of Pavel Durov “is fully consistent with the principles and spirit of the EU Digital Services Act,” according to which the operator of a social network is responsible for any content posted on it, a source in Brussels legal circles told TASS.

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