Pavel Durov, CEO of Telegram, Arrested in France

Who is Pavel Durov?

Background and Career

* Born October 10, 1984, in Leningrad, USSR (now St. Petersburg, Russia) * Co-founder of Vkontakte, the largest social media network in Russia, in 2006 * Launched Telegram, a secure messaging app, in 2013 * Known for his outspoken criticism of the Russian government and commitment to privacy

Arrest in France

* Arrested on Saturday, March 24, 2023 * Detained at Le Bourget Airport in Paris upon disembarking his private jet * Reason for arrest not immediately disclosed

International Reaction

* Concerns raised about potential political motivations behind the arrest * Supporters express solidarity and call for his release * Human rights organizations monitoring the situation

Telegram's Future

* Durov's arrest raises questions about Telegram's future and commitment to privacy * Company has a history of resisting government pressure * Users may be concerned about the security of their data

Impact on Russia-France Relations

* Arrest could strain relations between Russia and France * France has not commented on the reasons for Durov's detention * Russia has expressed concern for Durov's well-being

Sources:

* BBC News * Reuters * The Guardian