What is Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, and why was he arrested?

• On Saturday night in Paris, Pavel Durov, the CEO of Telegram, was arrested at an airport and put in custody for suspected crimes related to the messaging app, according to AFP.
• The billionaire, who is 39 years old and of Russian origin, was accused of not taking sufficient measures to prevent the use of his platform for illegal activities.

According to French media, Pavel Durov, the chief executive officer of Telegram, was arrested at an airport in Paris on Saturday night and is currently in custody for alleged offenses related to the messaging app.

A 39-year-old Russian-born billionaire was charged with failing to prevent criminal activities on his platform by France's OFMIN, which is responsible for protecting minors from violence. According to AFP, the charges against Durov include organized crime, drug trafficking, fraud, cyberbullying, and the promotion of terrorism.

The app, with approximately 800 million users, is popular in both Russia and Ukraine.

The Russian embassy in France promptly requested clarification from French authorities regarding Durov's detention and demanded that his rights be protected and that he be granted consular access. The embassy officials were in touch with Durov's lawyer, as stated in a message posted on Telegram.

Here's all you need to know about Durov:

• In 2006, Durov established VKontakte (VK), often referred to as Russia's version of Facebook.
• After a disagreement with Kremlin-linked owners over the management of the network, Durov left the company. It is reported that he refused to work with authorities to block the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny's page on the platform.

• In 2014, after leaving VK, Durov emigrated from Russia and obtained citizenship in Saint Kitts and Nevis after making a $250,000 donation to its sugar industry. He was later granted French citizenship in August 2021.

• In an interview with Tucker Carlson, Durov emphasized his commitment to freedom, including freedom of speech, assembly, and a free market, both in his professional and personal life.
• In 2013, he established Telegram, promoting it as an unbiased and unfiltered platform, open to individuals from diverse backgrounds and ideologies.

• According to Forbes, Durov is estimated to have a net worth of approximately $15.5 billion, placing him as the 121st wealthiest person in the world.