Telegram CEO Pavel Durov's Arrest in the City of Love

Paris, often romanticised as the City of Love, held a starkly different reality for Telegram CEO Pavel Durov.

According to reports from French news outlets such as TF1, Le Monde, and Agence France-Presse, Durov was arrested by French authorities at approximately 8PM on 24 August, as he stepped off his private jet at Le Bourget airport, northeast of Paris.

The jet had arrived from Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan.

Following his arrest, the 39-year-old entrepreneur was taken into police custody by investigators from the National Anti-Fraud Office (ONAF), a division of the Customs Directorate.

He is anticipated to appear before an investigating judge, which could lead to an indictment on multiple charges.

His detention is linked to a search warrant targeting alleged violations involving the encrypted messaging platform.

At the time of the arrest, Durov was accompanied by his bodyguard and a woman.

The operation was conducted by the Air Transport Gendarmerie (GTA), acting on a French search warrant issued by the OFMIN of the national directorate of the French judicial police.

This office is responsible for preventing violence against minors.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova confirmed the information about his arrest in a Telegram post.

In English, it reads:

“The Russian Embassy in Paris, as is customary when receiving information about the detention of Russian citizens by local authorities, immediately got to work. There is no need to remind our diplomats of their functional duties. I also recalled how, in 2018, a group of 26 NGOs, including Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, Freedom House, Reporters Without Borders, the Committee to Protect Journalists, and others, condemned the decision of the Russian court to block Telegram. Similar statements were made in the West (1, 2, 3, 4). These statements were made because, as of July 1, 2018, the Yarovaya law came into force in Russia, requiring telecommunications operators to store recordings of telephone conversations and internet traffic of their clients for six months, as well as decryption keys for users' correspondence, and provide them to the FSB of Russia upon request. Telegram faced legislative issues that were common in many countries due to the technical parameters of its encryption system. These Western NGOs called on Russian authorities to stop creating obstacles to Telegram's operations. They appealed to the UN, the Council of Europe, the OSCE, the European Union, the United States, and other governments, urging them to counter Russia's actions and protect the fundamental rights of freedom of expression and privacy. They also called on internet companies to resist unjustified and unlawful demands that violate their users' rights. They demanded that Russian authorities guarantee the rights of internet users to publish and anonymously view information on websites, emphasizing that any restrictions should be court-sanctioned and fully comply with the provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights. Meanwhile, Durov remained free, continuing to develop Telegram. I am posting a screenshot of all the relevant Western organizations that spoke out at the time, including a collective appeal. What do you think, will they call on Paris this time and demand Durov's release, or will they remain silent?”

The Charges Against Durov Encompass a Wide Range of Offences

The arrest warrant for Durov was issued as part of an ongoing investigation into his alleged involvement in criminal activities linked to the operations of his platform, Telegram.

This investigation was initiated by OFIM, an office of the French national police formed in November 2023, with a mandate to prevent violence against minors.

The warrant considers Durov complicit due to Telegram's perceived lack of moderation in issues such as drug trafficking, promotion of terrorism, cyberbullying, and the distribution of illegal content, including child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

TF1 quoted a law enforcement source as saying:

"On his platform, countless crimes and offenses were committed for which he does nothing to moderate or cooperate."

Additionally, there are concerns about fraud due to Telegram's lack of cooperation with law enforcement, as reported by TF1.

Authorities have also expressed worries about Durov’s potential flight risk, given his substantial financial resources and the seriousness of the charges against him.

Investigators argue that Durov’s actions, or lack thereof, have allowed the platform to become a haven for organised crime, including terrorism, drug trafficking, and pedophilia.

Another source who spoke with TF1 said:

"For years, it has become the number one platform for organized crime."

This arrest is seen as part of a broader effort by European authorities to crack down on secure messaging services that are believed to be used to facilitate criminal activities.

Why Did Durov Opt to Travel to a Hotbed of Telegram Controversy?

The reasons behind Durov's flight to France on Sunday remain unclear, given his reported avoidance of countries where Telegram has faced scrutiny.

Many theories are floating online.

According to TF1, an unnamed investigator stated that Durov will "for sure" end up in pre-trial detention.

One investigator expressed surprise that Durov flew to Paris knowing he was a wanted man:

"Enough of Telegram's impunity."

French commercial television network TF1 reported, citing unnamed sources close to the matter, that "this search warrant was executed if, and only if, Pavel Durov was on national territory."

It further claimed that Durov didn't travel within Europe often and avoided countries "where Telegram is under surveillance.”

Russian Authorities Less Than Thrilled, Demands Access to Durov

The Russian Embassy in France has informed TASS that it will demand consular access to Durov from the French authorities.

The embassy emphasized that it has urged the French authorities to respect Durov's rights, but Paris is reportedly avoiding collaboration on this issue.

Russia's embassy in Paris said in a statement reported by the Ria Novosti news agency:

"We immediately asked French authorities to explain the reasons for this detention and demanded that his rights be protected and that consular access be granted. Up to now, the French side is refusing to cooperate on this question."

Zakharova has noted that Durov's French citizenship poses a challenge for Russia.

Nevertheless, embassy officials are maintaining contact with Durov's lawyer, as indicated in the statement.

Durov, who resides in Dubai, holds citizenship in both France and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), as indicated on the Telegram website.

He has not publicly commented on whether he has renounced his Russian citizenship.

Toncoin Team Advocates Support & Free Speech

The team behind The Open Network (TON) expressed its support for Durov and the principle of free speech on X.

They assured that the "TON community remains strong and fully operational" in the hours following Durov’s arrest, though they refrained from providing specific details about the ongoing investigation.

The team also shared encouraging messages such as "#FREEDUROV" and "Resistance will prevail" across TON Community channels.

They updated Toncoin's logo and profile pictures to feature the global symbol of Digital Resistance—the Resistance Dog—and urge followers to activate the Resistance Pack.

This movement was initiated by Durov during his efforts to protect the privacy of Telegram users and uphold freedom of speech.

Telegram also posted about the absurdity of the French's authorities' "claim that a platform or its owner are responsible for abuse of that platform.”

Tech Titans, Prominent Figures, & Crypto Community Stand Behind Durov

The arrest of Durov in France has sparked a wave of support from celebrities and public figures, including Elon Musk, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK Jr.), Vitalik Buterin, Tucker Carlson, and more.

Buterin, who has been critical of Telegram's encryption standards in the past, expressed concern about the implications of Durov's arrest for software and communication freedoms in Europe.

He stated that the initial information relating to charges against the platform looked "very bad and worrying for the future of software and comms freedom in Europe.”

Musk, a staunch defender of free speech, voiced his support using the hashtag "#FreePavel" and a comment in French, "Liberte Liberte! Liberte?" (Freedom Freedom! Freedom?).

He also humorously commented on the state of censorship in Europe, suggesting that by 2030, one could be "executed for liking a meme."

RFK Jr., who recently withdrew from the US presidential race and has shown support for Donald Trump, emphasized the importance of protecting free speech in light of Durov's arrest.

American commentator Candace Owens also joined the chorus of voices expressing concern.

Tucker Carlson, a US journalist and political commentator who previously interviewed Durov, highlighted the irony of a Western country, allied with the Biden administration and a member of NATO, detaining Durov for enabling free speech.

In response to Durov's arrest, several Russian officials criticised France's actions, drawing comparisons to Russia's own attempts to control Telegram in 2014 and ban the platform in 2018.

Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia's representative to international organisations in Vienna, pointed out the hypocrisy of the situation, noting the criticism Russia faced for similar actions.

Not Everyone is on Durov's Side

As the details of Durov's arrest and the ongoing investigations into Telegram remain unclear, industry groups have raised concerns about the platform's privacy features though that might have been drowned out by the support for #FreePavel.

GrapheneOS, a company specialising in open-source privacy and security-focused mobile operating systems, brought these issues to light.

According to GrapheneOS, Telegram lacks end-to-end encryption for group and one-on-one chats, granting the platform unrestricted access to their content.

The company further noted that Telegram's secret chat feature uses a proprietary end-to-end encryption method, which has known vulnerabilities.

Additionally, GrapheneOS questioned the effectiveness of Telegram's content deletion process, suggesting that traces of messages might still persist.

The firm also speculated that Telegram could potentially share individual and group messages with French authorities.

Durov Created Telegram Under Pressure from Russia

The encrypted messaging app, headquartered in Dubai, positions itself as an alternative to US-owned platforms, which have faced criticism for commercially exploiting users' personal data.

Telegram has pledged never to disclose information about its users.

In the April's interview with Carlson, Durov shared that the idea for an encrypted messaging app came after facing pressure from the Russian government while working at VK, a social network he co-founded with his brother Nikolai, a programmer and mathematician.

The platform quickly gained popularity among Russians, attracting the attention of a Kremlin-linked billionaire.

After a dispute with its Kremlin-linked owners, Durov left VK and shifted his focus to Telegram, which he founded with Nikolai in 2013.

He attempted to settle in various cities like Berlin, London, Singapore, and San Francisco before choosing Dubai, which he praised for its business environment and "neutrality."

Durov told Carlson that people love the independence, privacy, and freedom offered by Telegram, which he claimed had more than 900 million active users at the time.

Just last month, Durov announced that Telegram's user base had surpassed 950 million, with a recent surge in users coinciding with the rise of crypto-fuelled games playable on the messaging app via integrated "mini apps."

He also predicted that increasing government surveillance would lead to the development of secure communication devices inspired by cryptocurrency hardware wallets.

Durov explained:

“The world is becoming less amenable. Governments are becoming less tolerant of privacy."

He added:

“That's clearly the trend because they have more technological power.”

By basing itself in the UAE, Telegram has shielded itself from moderation laws, while Western countries pressure large platforms to remove illegal content.

Initially similar to other messaging apps, Telegram has evolved into more of a social network, allowing groups of up to 200,000 members.

This has led to accusations that it facilitates the spread of false information and extremist content, including neo-Nazi, pedophilic, conspiratorial, and terrorist material.

With over 950 million active monthly users, Telegram has become a significant source of information and disinformation, particularly regarding Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The app offers end-to-end encrypted messaging and allows users to create channels to disseminate information to followers.

It is widely used by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and his circle, as well as politicians throughout Ukraine, to release information about the war.

Telegram also provides one of the few unfiltered sources of information about the conflict for Russians, as the Kremlin has tightened media controls.

The app's encryption has made it a haven for extremists and conspiracy theorists.

Investigative journalists at the central European news site VSquare described it as the "go-to" tool for Russian propagandists, radicals, and conspiracy theorists, labelling it an "ecosystem for the radicalisation of opinion."

The anti-racism campaign group Hope Not Hate concluded that Telegram had become the "app of choice" for racists and violent extremists, characterising it as a "cesspit of antisemitic content" with minimal moderation.

Dmitry Medvedev, the former Russian president and current deputy head of Russia's security council, claimed that Durov made a mistake by thinking he could avoid cooperating with security services abroad.

"He miscalculated," Medvedev said, adding that for all their common enemies, Durov is considered Russian and therefore unpredictable and dangerous.

Durov has claimed that Telegram attracted unwanted attention from the FBI and other US security agencies whenever he entered the country.

He alleged that US officers attempted to hire one of his engineers during his last visit and that FBI agents frequently stopped him upon entry into the US to ask questions about the messaging service's operations.

The Open Network was originally developed internally at Telegram but was abandoned in 2020 due to regulatory scrutiny.

Development continued externally through a community of contributors, and Telegram has increasingly embraced and integrated the blockchain network over the past year.

Toncoin (TON) Plummet But Spiked Due to Support for Durov But Still Unstable

Following Durov’s arrest, Toncoin, a cryptocurrency closely linked to Telegram, has seen a substantial price decline.

TON dropped by over 20% after the news emerged, falling from above $6.75 to below $5.40 in under 12 hours.

According to CoinMarketCap, the asset was down by nearly 17% to $5.65 on the night of 25 August.

This downturn was unexpected, as optimism for TON's price had been building due to anticipated new projects that could draw investor interest.

However, this sudden shift has driven the price to a two-week low.

The sharp fall in Toncoin’s value underscores the market's uncertainty about the future of Telegram and its related ventures.

Investors are likely worried about the potential legal and regulatory consequences for the platform and its associated assets, particularly if the charges against Durov result in significant legal action.

Despite these concerns, TON has begun to rally, albeit not by a large margin, buoyed by supportive investors who are purchasing the cryptocurrency.

It is now trading at $5.63, a 3.97% increase in the last 24 hours but a 17.46% decline in the last seven days.

Durov's Detention Term Extended

OFMIN is overseeing the investigation into Durov and Telegram.

The CEO of the messaging platform was anticipated to appear in court on 25 August.

Reports suggest that Durov could face up to 20 years in prison based on the alleged offenses.

However, French judicial authorities have extended the detention of Telegram's founder, who was initially apprehended at the airport in Paris, by an additional 24 hours to a total of 48 hours.

The initial period of detention for questioning can last up to 96 hours.

The Paris prosecutor's office has promised to release a statement on the matter on 26 August.

Once this phase of detention concludes, the judge will decide whether to release Durov or to press charges and place him in further custody.

Free Speech Suppression Comes at a Cost but So Does Free Speech Expression

The French's charge against Durov can be liken to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) going after Coinbase and Binance, using them as an example for what was to come for other exchanges.

So why not target Meta's Mark Zuckerberg?

Because according to Musk, Zuckerberg has "already caved into censorship pressure" and provides "governments backdoor access to user data.”

One must ask: Are the French authorities justified in holding Durov accountable for these issues due to the platform's alleged lapses and lack of cooperation with law enforcement?

Or could his arrest be viewed as an attempt to undermine free speech, using Telegram as a focal point?

Social media influencer Andrew Tate iterates that Durov had ominously predicted that "they" are coming for everyone back in 2022.

Durov's detention is more than meets the eye; it is not as simple as an arrest anymore.

The principles of free expression might be threatened ─ will free speech prevail or perish?