Paris: Pavel Durov, the Russian-born billionaire and founder of the Telegram messaging app, was arrested on Saturday evening at Le Bourget airport near Paris shortly after landing on a private jet, according to three sources who spoke to Reuters. The 39-year-old tech entrepreneur was taken into custody, sparking a diplomatic response from Moscow and criticism from X (formerly Twitter) owner Elon Musk, who claimed that free speech in Europe is under threat.

French authorities have not officially confirmed the arrest, but two French police sources and one Russian source, all speaking on condition of anonymity, reported that Durov was detained upon his arrival from Azerbaijan. One French police source explained that law enforcement had identified Durov on the jet’s passenger list and moved to arrest him due to an outstanding warrant in France.

In response to the arrest, Telegram issued a statement defending its operations. “Telegram abides by EU laws, including the Digital Services Act — its moderation is within industry standards and constantly improving,” the company stated. “Telegram’s CEO Pavel Durov has nothing to hide and travels frequently in Europe. It is absurd to claim that a platform or its owner are responsible for abuse of that platform.”

Durov, who holds dual citizenship in France and the United Arab Emirates, was reportedly arrested as part of a preliminary investigation. French police are looking into allegations that Telegram’s lack of moderation and limited cooperation with authorities may have facilitated various crimes.

Moscow quickly responded to the news, warning Paris to ensure that Durov’s rights are respected. Meanwhile, Elon Musk criticized the arrest, suggesting that it signals an attack on free speech in Europe. The situation is still developing, with no further comments from French officials at this time.