Telegram founder Pavel Durov managed to collect his luggage and make his way to the VIP lounge before being detained at Paris Le Bourget airport, French television channel TF1 reported.
Durov, his assistant and his bodyguard were in the VIP room during the document check. The police arrived there and asked them to come up. After that, the police informed the businessman that he was under arrest.
“I couldn’t believe it” – the source said.
Durov was arrested on August 24. The businessman is accused of insufficient moderation of the Telegram messenger and refusal to cooperate with intelligence services, which, according to the gendarmerie, makes him complicit in the distribution of child pornography, fraud and other crimes.
Telegram denies the allegations.
“It is absurd to say that the platform or its owner is responsible for its abuse” – said the messenger’s address.
After four days of arrest, Durov was released on bail and banned from leaving French territory.
