Russian-born Pavel Durov was arrested on Saturday, August 24, at Paris’s Bourget Airport on a warrant of alleged lack of content moderation on Telegram and refusal to work with police, which allowed the spread of criminal activity.

French prosecutor Laure Beccuau said in a statement Monday, August 26 said other charges include allegations that his platform was complicit in aiding fraudsters, money launders, drug traffickers and people spreading child sexual exploitation content.

Beccuau added that Durov is accused of refusing to communicate “information or documents” related to the investigation.

Here are things to know about arrested CEO of Telegram Pavel Durov

1. Pavel Valeryevich Durov was born October 10, 1984.

2. He is a Russian business executive, entrepreneur, and investor who is a co-founder and the chief executive officer of Telegram Messenger Inc.

3. Pavel Durov was born in Leningrad, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union, but spent most of his childhood in Turin, Italy, where his father was employed.

4. He later studied at Saint Petersburg State University, where his father worked.

5. During his university years, Durov created the highly popular forum spbgu.ru.

6. He also co-founded social networking site VK.

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7. Since 2021, he has held citizenship in four countries: Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, the United Arab Emirates, and France.

8. Durov was listed on the Forbes Billionaires List in 2023, with a net worth of $11.5 billion.

9. His fortune is largely driven by his ownership of Telegram.

10. As of August 25, 2024, Durov was the 120th richest person in the world, with a net worth of $15.5 billion, according to Forbes.

11. In 2022, he was recognized by Forbes as the richest expat in the United Arab Emirates.

12. In February 2023, Arabian Business named him the most powerful entrepreneur in Dubai.

13. In 2011, he was involved in a standoff with the police in Saint Petersburg when the government demanded the removal of opposition politicians’ pages after the 2011 election to the Duma; Durov posted a picture of a dog with its tongue out wearing a hoodie, and the police left after an hour when he did not answer the door.

14. In 2012, Durov publicly posted a picture of himself extending his middle finger and calling it his official response to Mail.ru Group’s efforts to buy VK.

15. In December 2013, Durov decided to sell his 12% to Ivan Tavrin (at that time 40% of the shares belonged to Mail.ru Group, and 48% to the United Capital Partners).

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