Telegram boss Pavel Durov arrested at French airport: officials

The 39-year-old French-Russian billionaire was arrested on Saturday evening at Le Bourget airport north of the French capital, one of the officials told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.

He had just arrived from Baku in Azerbaijan, said another source familiar with the case.

Durov was due to appear in court on Sunday.

The French agency OFMIN, which is responsible for preventing violence against minors, has issued an arrest warrant against Durov as the coordinating body in a preliminary investigation into suspected crimes such as fraud, drug trafficking, cyberbullying, organized crime and promoting terrorism, a source familiar with the case said.

Durov is suspected of not having taken any action against the criminal use of his platform.

“End impunity at Telegram,” said one of the investigators, adding that they were surprised that Durov came to Paris knowing that he was a wanted man.