Telegram founder Pavel Durov was arrested at Le Bourget airport in France around 8 PM on Saturday. The French-Russian national was detained upon arriving from Azerbaijan due to a French search warrant issued by the Office of the French National Judicial Police Directorate.
The warrant was based on allegations that Telegram facilitated illegal activities such as drug trafficking, child abuse, and fraud due to its lack of content moderation. French authorities claim Durov’s refusal to cooperate with law enforcement made him an accomplice. He had been avoiding countries where Telegram was under scrutiny.
Following his arrest, Durov was placed in custody and is expected to face charges including terrorism, drug trafficking, complicity, fraud, money laundering, and involvement in child abuse content. Authorities believe his pre-trial detention is likely due to his significant resources and flight risk.
Pavel Durov’s arrest caused a 16% drop in the price of TON, Telegram’s cryptocurrency, within an hour of the news. The crypto community is concerned about the future of Telegram and its projects, fearing increased regulatory scrutiny and instability. At press time, TON trades at $5.62, down significantly from the intraday high of $8.24.
Meanwhile, the TON community took to social media platform X to assure members that despite the recent news about Telegram founder Pavel Durov, the community remains strong and fully operational.
They emphasized their commitment to freedom of speech and decentralization, standing firmly by Durov. The community remains focused on its mission and encourages everyone to stay calm, united, and continue building.
Elon Musk, known for his stance on freedom of speech, has reacted to Pavel Durov’s arrest. Musk posted several messages supporting Durov, including one that likens the scenario to being executed for liking a meme in Europe in 2030.