August 25th 2024.
In 2014, Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of Telegram, made the difficult decision to leave his home country of Russia. As a Russian-French billionaire, Durov had made a name for himself as the "Mark Zuckerberg of Russia" due to his role as the managing director of Facebook. However, his departure from Russia was not without controversy.
According to reports, Durov was arrested at Bourget airport outside of Paris on Saturday. He had just arrived from Azerbaijan on his private jet when authorities intercepted him at around 8pm. News sources have stated that Durov, who became a French citizen in 2021, was the subject of a search warrant. The investigation is said to be related to the lack of moderators on the Telegram app and possible criminal activity by its users.
Durov, who is 39 years old, is set to appear in court this afternoon where more details about the potential charges against him will be revealed. One investigator has expressed surprise that Durov would enter France despite the warrant against him, stating that "enough of Telegram's impunity" has been allowed.
Durov's departure from Russia in 2014 was a result of his refusal to comply with government demands to shut down opposition communities on his social media platform, VKontakte, which he has since sold. In an interview with US journalist Tucker Carlson, Durov stated that he would rather be free than take orders from anyone, which ultimately led to his decision to leave Russia. Since then, Durov and his company have been based in various locations including Berlin, London, Singapore, and San Francisco.
Following news of Durov's arrest, former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev commented on his decision to leave Russia, stating that Durov had "miscalculated" by thinking he could avoid answering to security services abroad. Medvedev recalled a conversation he had with Durov years ago, warning him that he would face difficulties in any country if he refused to cooperate with law enforcement agencies. Medvedev, who is now the deputy head of Russia's Security Council, also criticized Durov for wanting to be a "man of the world" without a motherland, stating that he "miscalculated" and is now seen as a Russian who is unpredictable and dangerous.
With a fortune estimated at $15.5 billion by Forbes, Durov also holds citizenship in the United Arab Emirates. It seems that despite his wealth and success, Durov's decision to leave Russia has not been without its challenges and consequences. As Medvedev stated, "one cannot choose their fatherland."
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