Pavel Durov, Founder of Telegram, Detained by French Authorities
Circumstances of the Arrest
French authorities detained Pavel Durov, the founder of the Telegram messaging app, on Saturday at an airport near Paris.
The arrest took place under a European arrest warrant issued by Spain, where Durov is wanted for questioning in connection with a money laundering investigation.
Durov was released on bail later that day, but his passport was confiscated.
He is expected to appear in court in France on Monday.
Background on Pavel Durov
Durov is a French-Russian billionaire who founded Telegram in 2013.
The app has over 500 million active users worldwide.
Durov is a controversial figure who has been critical of the Russian government.
He has also been accused of supporting far-right groups.
Reason for Durov's Detention
The Spanish authorities are investigating Durov's involvement in a money laundering scheme.
They believe that he may have used Telegram to launder money for organized crime groups.
Durov has denied any wrongdoing and has said that he is being politically persecuted.
He has also accused the Spanish authorities of fabricating evidence against him.
Impact of the Arrest
The arrest of Durov is a major development in the ongoing investigation into money laundering in Spain.
It is unclear what impact this will have on Telegram or its users.
Durov's arrest is also a blow to freedom of speech in Russia.
He is one of the few high-profile figures who has been willing to criticize the government.
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