Iran Press/ Europe: Durov was apprehended after disembarking from his private jet.
The charges he may face are serious and wide-ranging, including allegations of terrorism, drug trafficking, fraud, money laundering, and child pornography.
The 39-year-old entrepreneur was reportedly detained at 8 p.m. local time, accompanied by his security team. Further details about his arrest have not been disclosed.
Pavel Durov, along with his brother Nikolai, founded Telegram in 2013. The app, which has become a major competitor to WhatsApp, now boasts approximately 950 million active users worldwide.
Durov’s wealth is estimated at around $12 billion. Earlier this year, he stated that Telegram remains "a neutral platform" and is not a "geopolitical player."
Meanwhile, the UK government has urged social media companies, including Telegram, to take stronger measures to prevent extremists from exploiting their platforms.
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