Durov is accused, among other things, of not having acted against criminals using the messaging service to commit crimes.
The 39-year-old billionaire has, according to sources within the French police, been arrested in an investigation led by Ofmin, a part of the French judiciary that works against exploitation, violence, and abuse of children and young people.
Durov is a citizen of Russia, France, the United Arab Emirates, and the island nation of Saint Kitts and Nevis. Russia warns France against trying to "intimidate" the detained Telegram chief.
The allegations are really very serious and they require no less serious evidence. Otherwise, this would be a direct attempt to restrict freedom of communication, and, I can even say, directly intimidate the head of a large company, says Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on Tuesday.
