Telegram Founder Pavel Durov Arrested in France, TON Cryptocurrency Drops

Aug 24, 2024, 09:08 PM

Pavel Durov, the 39-year-old founder and CEO of Telegram, was arrested at Le Bourget Airport in France after arriving from Azerbaijan on Saturday evening. French authorities detained Durov, who holds both Russian and French citizenship, on a search warrant issued by the National Office of the Judicial Police (OFMI). He faces potential charges including support for terrorism, drug trafficking, complicity in various crimes, mass fraud, money laundering, and distribution of illegal content. The arrest is reportedly linked to Telegram's lack of moderation and cooperation with law enforcement. Durov is expected to appear before a French judge, with the possibility of facing up to 20 years in prison. The arrest has also impacted the cryptocurrency market, with Telegram's associated cryptocurrency, TON, experiencing a significant drop in value.