By Kachi Ekile
Details surrounding the arrest of Telegram co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Pavel Durov have been revealed.
International media reported on Saturday that Durov was apprehended by French police at an airport north of Paris.
According to BBC, Durov was nabbed under a warrant for offences related to the popular messaging app. He was subsequently detained after his private jet had landed at Le Bourget Airport, French media shared.
Per the report, the 39-year-old billionaire was arrested after an investigation was launched over a lack of moderators on Telegram.
Durov is accused of failing to take steps to curb criminality on the social media platform, which was banned in Russia in 2018 after he failed to relinquish user data.
Reacting to Durov's arrest on Sunday, the Russian Embassy said it sought access to him.
“Following the media reports about the detention of P. Durov, the French authorities were immediately requested to clarify the reasons for the detention and to provide for the protection of Mr Durov's rights and facilitate consular access.
“As of today, the French authorities are, at the present time, not cooperating on this issue. We are in contact with P. Durov's lawyer,” it penned on Facebook.