Prancūzijoje suimtas "Telegram" generalinis direktorius Pavelas Durovas dėl rimtų kaltinimų nusikaltimais

Nepriklausomos užsienio naujienos... Prancūzijoje suimtas "Telegram" generalinis direktorius Pavelas Durovas dėl rimtų kaltinimų nusikaltimais

Pavel Durov, the billionaire founder and CEO of Telegram, has been arrested by French authorities at Le Bourget airport near Paris, igniting a major legal controversy. Detained under a warrant linked to serious allegations, Durov faces scrutiny for allegedly failing to curb criminal activities facilitated through his messaging platform, including drug trafficking and organized crime. Arriving from Azerbaijan, his unexpected visit to France raises questions amid ongoing investigations led by OFMIN, the French agency tasked with protecting minors from violence. As Durov prepares for a court appearance, the case underscores the growing pressure on tech executives to ensure their platforms do not enable harmful activities, potentially reshaping the regulatory landscape for social media worldwide.

Pavel Durov, the billionaire founder and CEO of Telegram, has made headlines after being detained by French authorities at Le Bourget airport near Paris, based on a warrant linked to serious allegations surrounding his messaging platform. The arrest stems from a broader investigation led by OFMIN, France's agency focused on protecting minors from violence, which accuses Telegram of facilitating criminal activities including drug trafficking, fraud, cyberbullying, organized crime, and the promotion of terrorism.

Durov reportedly arrived in Paris aboard his private jet from Azerbaijan and was arrested at approximately 8 p.m. local time. The unexpected nature of his visit, given the outstanding warrant, raised questions among investigators about his decision to travel to France. The arrest and ongoing investigation signal a push from authorities to hold tech executives accountable for the activities that occur on their platforms, particularly those that can lead to significant societal harm.

As Durov prepares to appear before a judge, he faces a wide range of potential charges that could lead to severe penalties, including up to 20 years in prison if convicted. This situation highlights the increasing scrutiny on tech companies and their responsibility for monitoring and controlling illegal activities facilitated through their services, particularly in the case of a widely used platform like Telegram. The outcomes of this case could set important precedents for how social media and messaging platforms are regulated to prevent misuse.

Deutsche Welle / The Jerusalem Post: French authorities detained Pavel Durov, the billionaire founder and CEO of Telegram, at Le Bourget airport near Paris on Saturday.

The arrest was made based on a warrant related to alleged crimes involving the messaging platform, according to reports from the AFP news agency, which cited anonymous officials.

French broadcaster TF1 reported that Durov, who was flying from Azerbaijan aboard his private jet, was apprehended at approximately 8 p.m. local time (1800 GMT).

Durov is scheduled to appear in court on Sunday.

Why is Durov under investigation?

Durov is being investigated for allegedly failing to implement measures to prevent criminal activity on Telegram.

The French agency OFMIN, responsible for protecting minors from violence, had issued the arrest warrant as part of a preliminary inquiry into suspected offenses such as fraud, drug trafficking, cyberbullying, organized crime, and terrorism promotion, according to a source involved in the case.

"Telegram's era of impunity must end," one investigator stated, adding that authorities were surprised Durov visited Paris despite being aware of the warrant for his arrest.

"He made a big mistake this evening," a source close to the investigation told TF1. "We don't know why... Was this flight just a stopover? In any case, he's in custody."

TF1 said that investigators from France's anti-fraud directorate placed Durov in custody, and the CEO will appear before a judge on Saturday night before a possible indictment on Sunday. The alleged offenses include: terrorism, narcotic supply, fraud, money laundering, receiving stolen goods and others.

TF1 claimed the businessman could face up to 20 years in prison.