Russian-born Pavel Durov, 39, co-founded VKontakte, one of Russia’s most popular social media networks, in his hometown of St. Petersburg in 2007. Often likened to Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg, Durov gained international attention in 2013 when he publicly offered a job to whistleblower and former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden.
He is the co-founder of VKontakte (VK), a social media platform that became one of the most popular in Russia. Born on October 10, 1984, in St. Petersburg, Russia, Durov has often been likened to Mark Zuckerberg because of his early achievements in the tech industry.
Earlier this year, in an interview with U.S. journalist, Durov revealed that in 2014 he faced pressure from Russian authorities to provide access to data from the accounts of Ukrainian pro-democracy activists—a request he refused. As the Russian government tightened its control over the internet and President Vladimir Putin’s allies began seizing control of VKontakte, Durov sold his stake in the platform in 2014 and left the country.
He then turned his attention to Telegram, an app he co-founded with his brother Nikolai when he was 28.
Durov has since been residing in Dubai and holds citizenship in both the United Arab Emirates and France, according to Telegram. It remains unclear if he has renounced his Russian citizenship.
As of Sunday morning, Forbes estimates Pavel Durov’s net worth at $15.5 billion. Known for his hands-off approach to moderation, Durov has promoted Telegram as a platform for privacy and free expression. However, some experts warn that this laissez-faire stance has made the app a hub for illegal activities and extremism.
Why Telegram CEO Pavel Durov Has Been Arrested
According to a report by the AFP news agency, he was detained on charges related to alleged activities on Telegram, including fraud, drug trafficking, cyberbullying, organized crime, and promoting terrorism.Holding web service providers accountable for the actions of their users is highly unusual, and attributing personal liability is even rarer. What remains uncertain is whether Telegram’s alleged shortcomings are truly exceptional, or if the escalation is primarily driven by French authorities.
In a statement on Sunday, Telegram asserted that Durov “has nothing to hide” and called it “absurd to suggest that a platform or its owner should be held responsible for misuse of the platform.”
What Has Been Russia’s Response to Durov’s Arrest?
The relationship between Russia and Durov has long been tense.
Following the entrepreneur’s arrest, Russia swiftly responded, with its embassy in France demanding consular access to Durov and ensuring that his rights were upheld.
Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia’s permanent representative to the United Nations in Vienna, criticized France for behaving like a “totalitarian” society, labeling Durov as “naive” for trusting Western assertions about defending freedom of speech.