French authorities have extended the detention of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov after his arrest at Le Bourget airport near Paris. Durov, who arrived from Baku, Azerbaijan, was apprehended under a warrant related to alleged crimes linked to Telegram. He was accompanied by a bodyguard and assistant at the time of his arrest.
Durov’s detention, initially set to expire on Sunday, has been extended for further questioning. Under French law, this can last up to 96 hours before charges are pressed or he is released. The warrant stems from an investigation into serious offenses, including fraud, drug trafficking, and terrorism promotion, connected to the use of Telegram.
In response, Russia has criticized France for not cooperating, while tech billionaire Elon Musk has voiced support for Durov. Durov maintains his innocence, and a Telegram spokesperson affirmed that the platform complies with EU laws and industry standards for content moderation.