Pavel Durov was arrested at the airport and was wanted on a French warrant

Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of the famous encrypted messaging software Telegram, was arrested as soon as he got off a private plane at the Paris airport on Saturday night. The 39-year-old French-Russian billionaire was traveling with his bodyguard and a woman when he was detained on the spot by the French Gendarmerie Air Transport (GTA). The arrest was made in response to a wanted warrant from the French judiciary.

(Telegram founder Pavel Durov was replaced in France, TON fell 16%)

Pavel Durov's wanted background for alleged criminal activities? Telegram,TON

Why is Pavel Durov wanted in France?

According to authorities, Pavel Durov is included in France's "Wanted Persons List" (FPR) and is wanted by the French judicial police's Central Office for Combating Organized Crime (OFMIN) on suspicion of several serious crimes. The charges stem from a preliminary investigation that charged Pavel Durov with serious offenses including facilitating drug trafficking, child sex crimes and racketeering.

The accusations focus on Telegram's lack of effective content management and the tools its platform offers, such as disposable phone numbers and passwords, which are believed to facilitate illegal activity.

  • Anonymous phone number provided by Telegram: Telegram privacy upgrade! Fragment launches "phone number" market, buy anonymous account for $17

  • New issues arising from cryptocurrency: The birth of a new darknet? TON is used to fund pro-Russian hacker groups and facilitate various illegal activities on Telegram

  • The Ton Foundation controls a large number of tokens: Can TON, which will not fall, rely on them? On-chain decryption: The same group of TON Foundation miners mined 85% of the supply

Why did Pavel Durov choose to go to France?

The warrant against Pavel Durov is only valid when he sets foot on French soil, a situation he has been careful to avoid.

A source close to the investigation told TF1/LCI: "He made a big mistake tonight. We don't know why... maybe it was just a stopover. Regardless, he is now in custody."

Pavel Durov is well aware that he is considered persona non grata in France, so he usually only travels to countries where he can avoid surveillance, such as the United Arab Emirates, former Soviet republics and South America.

What’s next for Pavel Durov?

Detained or face formal prosecution

Following his arrest, Pavel Durov has been detained by investigators from France's National Anti-Fraud Office (ONAF) and is expected to be produced before a pre-trial judge.

The interview is likely to lead to formal prosecutions for a number of serious offences, including terrorism, drug trafficking, conspiracy to commit fraud, money laundering, receiving stolen property and the distribution of child sex offences.

One investigator believes: "He will almost certainly be detained pending trial." Due to Pavel Durov's huge financial resources, authorities are concerned that he is a flight risk, so it is unlikely that he will be allowed to be released under judicial supervision.

Have a significant impact on international organizations fighting cybercrime

For investigators, the arrest of Pavel Durov sends a clear warning to those who use Telegram to engage in criminal activities. It also aims to prompt European countries to strengthen cooperation and implement stricter supervision of the communication platform, especially in the field of counter-terrorism. .

Telegram has long been accused of being a haven for all types of criminal activity. In addition to the spread of illegal content, illegal streaming of football matches and communication between criminals are also rampant on the platform. "Over the years, Telegram has become the platform of choice for organized crime," one investigator noted.

(Lost assets in TON? Telegram Wallet’s 50% annual currency earning is shockingly reported to have locked the wallet, and customer service only replies canned messages)

It has nothing to do with freedom, it’s a crime

Judging from the context of Pavel Durov's arrest, it is true that some may interpret this event as an "anti-liberal" or "anti-Russian" action. Telegram, founded by Pavel Durov, is known for its emphasis on privacy and encrypted communications and is often seen as a platform for supporting free speech, so his arrest may be interpreted by some as a crackdown on digital freedoms.

At the same time, Pavel Durov’s Russian background cannot be ignored. France and other Western countries have been highly wary of Russia in recent years, especially as geopolitical tensions intensify. This wariness may extend to companies or individuals related to Russia. Therefore, some may believe that his arrest is related to Western hostility to Russia.

However, judging from public information, the main reason for this arrest is related to accusations of criminal activities. In particular, Telegram is accused of lacking effective management, making the platform a hotbed for illegal activities. So while some may make "anti-liberal" or "anti-Russian" arguments, more evidence points to a crackdown on criminal activity rather than purely political motivations.

The focus remains on Telegram's alleged role in facilitating illegal activity, rather than on an overt witch hunt.

This article: Why was Telegram founder and TON spiritual leader Pavel Durov arrested? It’s not about freedom, it’s about crime and cryptocurrency. First appeared on Chain News ABMedia.