Telegram Founder Pavel Durov Arrested at Le Bourget, Faces 20 Years; Toncoin Drops

Aug 24, 2024, 09:57 PM

Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of Telegram, was arrested at Le Bourget Airport in France on Saturday evening. French authorities detained Durov, who arrived on a private jet, under a warrant for allegedly refusing to cooperate with law enforcement and being implicated in crimes facilitated through Telegram, including terrorism, drug trafficking, and money laundering. Durov, a French citizen, faces up to 20 years in prison. The arrest has led to a significant drop in the value of Toncoin, a cryptocurrency associated with Telegram, which fell by up to 17%. Durov is expected to appear before a French judge soon.