Social media is abuzz with reports that Telegram CEO Pavel Durov has been arrested in France on multiple serious charges, though no official confirmation has been provided yet.
According to these unverified reports, Durov was detained when his private jet landed at Le Bourget Airport near Paris. Allegedly, he faces charges ranging from terrorism and trafficking to conspiracy, fraud, and money laundering.
The arrest reportedly took place as Durov disembarked from his jet, which had arrived from Azerbaijan. Flight tracking service Flight Aware confirmed the jet’s arrival. French television network TF1, citing unnamed sources, suggested that a search warrant was activated only because Durov was on French soil, noting that he typically avoids countries where Telegram is under close scrutiny.
In response to these unconfirmed reports, the TON cryptocurrency, developed by Telegram, saw a significant decline, dropping over 10% from its August 24 high of $6.86 to $5.85 at the time of this article’s publication.
Several prominent figures have already reacted to the news. American commentator Candace Owens voiced her concern on social media, stating, “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.” Similarly, Tucker Carlson, a well-known Fox News host, commented, “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.”
This incident comes just months after Durov appeared on Carlson’s podcast in April, where he expressed concerns about increasing government surveillance and predicted the rise of secure communication devices inspired by cryptocurrency hardware wallets. “The world is becoming less amenable. Governments are becoming less tolerant of privacy,” Durov warned during the interview.
Following the reports, the TON community issued a statement on X, reassuring users that despite the news, they remain fully operational. “As a community committed to freedom of speech and decentralization, we stand firmly by Pavel during this challenging time,” the statement read, though it did not offer specifics on the ongoing investigation.
