Telegram CEO Pavel Durov Reportedly Arrested in France Amid Allegations of Serious Crimes

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Unconfirmed reports are circulating on social media and various press outlets that Pavel Durov, the CEO of Telegram, has been arrested in France.

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The arrest allegedly occurred as Durov’s plane landed at Le Bourget airport near Paris. The charges he reportedly faces are severe, ranging from terrorism and trafficking to conspiracy, fraud, and money laundering.

Telegram Founder Apprehended Following Flight from Azerbaijan

The reports suggest that Durov was apprehended as he disembarked from his private jet, which had flown in from Azerbaijan. French media outlet TF1, citing unnamed sources, claimed that a search warrant was in place, contingent upon Durov’s presence on French soil. It’s further reported that Durov has typically avoided European countries where Telegram is under surveillance.

In the wake of these unconfirmed reports, the cryptocurrency associated with Telegram, Toncoin (TON), has seen a significant drop in value. As of now, TON has plummeted over 10% from its Aug. 24 high of $6.86 to $5.85. Over the past week, Toncoin has also declined by 9.29%.

The arrest of Durov, if confirmed, has already sparked global reactions. Prominent figures have weighed in on the situation, expressing concerns about the implications of this development.

Candace Owens, a well-known American commentator, took to social media to voice her thoughts: “Do you understand the severity of what is happening yet? Pavel Durov truly believes in free speech and created a platform the deep state doesn’t have access to, so now they have arrested him.”

Pavel Durov left Russia when the government tried to control his social media company, Telegram. But in the end, it wasn’t Putin who arrested him for allowing the public to exercise free speech. It was a western country, a Biden administration ally and enthusiastic NATO member,… https://t.co/F83E9GbNHC
— Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) August 24, 2024

Similarly, Tucker Carlson, a Fox News host, warned of the broader consequences in a post to his 13.6 million X followers: “Pavel Durov sits in a French jail tonight, a living warning to any platform owner who refuses to censor the truth at the behest of governments and intel agencies.”

Durov’s Predictions on Government Surveillance Resurface

This arrest follows Durov’s April appearance on Carlson’s podcast, where he predicted increased government surveillance would lead to the creation of secure communication devices akin to cryptocurrency hardware wallets. “The world is becoming less amenable. Governments are becoming less tolerant of privacy,” Durov said at the time.

Statement from the TON Community

Following the recent news related to the Telegram’s founder Pavel Durov, we want to assure everyone that the TON community remains strong and fully operational.

As a community committed to freedom of speech and decentralization, we stand firmly…
— TON 💎 (@ton_blockchain) August 24, 2024

In response to the news, TON’s official account on X released a statement, though it offered no specifics about the investigation: “Following the recent news related to Telegram’s founder Pavel Durov, we want to assure everyone that the TON community remains strong and fully operational. As a community committed to freedom of speech and decentralization, we stand firmly by Pavel during this challenging time.”

Author

Steven Walgenbach

Steven's passion for cryptocurrency and blockchain technology began in 2014, inspiring him to immerse himself in the field. He notably secured a top 5 world ranking in robotics. While he initially pursued a computer science degree at the University of Texas at Arlington, he chose to pause his studies after two semesters to take a more hands-on approach in advancing cryptocurrency technology. During this period, he actively worked on multiple patents related to cryptocurrency and blockchain. Additionally, Steven has explored various areas of the financial sector, including banking and financial markets, developing prototypes such as fully autonomous trading bots and intuitive interfaces that streamline blockchain integration, among other innovations.

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