Telegram founder detained in Paris as Russia orders data purge
Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, a network messenger enabling the sending of encrypted messages, was detained at Paris-Le Bourget Airport on Saturday evening. Authorities in Russia ordered officials and some influential businesspeople to delete official correspondence from Telegram.
The Russian Telegram channel Baza, linked to security forces, reported on Sunday, August 25, that authorities ordered officials and some prominent businesspeople to delete official correspondence from Telegram following the detention in France of the service's founder, Pavel Durov.
According to the independent portal Meduza, such an order was received by employees of some law enforcement agencies, the administration of the president and the Russian government, and high-ranking employees of the Russian Ministry of Defence.
At the same time, some officials, whom Baza spoke with, reported that they were not asked to delete correspondence on Telegram. However, the sources added that they expect such instructions on August 26-27.
Additionally, Russian propagandist Margarita Simonyan wrote on Telegram that "anyone who is used to using the messenger for confidential conversations/correspondence should immediately delete that correspondence and never do it again."
Telegram creator detained in Paris
Paweł Durov was detained on August 24 at Paris airport, where he arrived by private jet. The French judicial police issued the arrest warrant.
Durov created the Telegram app 11 years ago. Earlier, he tried to launch the "Russian Facebook," but his actions were allegedly thwarted by Vladimir Putin's allies. He then left Russia, obtaining citizenship in Saint Kitts and Nevis.
His company, Telegram Group Inc., is registered in the British Virgin Islands. Meanwhile, the mobile app is issued by Telegram FZ-LLC, a company registered in the United Arab Emirates. According to Forbes, Durov's fortune is estimated at 20.4 billion CAD.
