French authorities arrest Telegram CEO Pavel Durov at a Paris airport, French media report

Associated Press

NICE, France (AP) — French broadcast media say the founder and CEO of the popular messaging service Telegram has been detained at a Paris airport. Pavel Durov is a dual citizen of France and Russia. French broadcasters LCI and TF1 reported that Durov was arrested at Paris-Le Bourget Airport on Saturday evening after landing in France from Azerbaijan. French prosecutors declined to comment on Durov’s arrest when contacted by The Associated Press on Sunday. French media reported that Durov was the subject of a French arrest warrant on allegations that his platform has been used for money laundering, drug trafficking and other offenses. Durov’s representatives couldn’t be immediately reached for comment.