French authorities to clarify Telegram CEO Pavel Durov's status

French authorities are expected to issue a statement on Monday, Aug. 26, regarding the detention of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov.

Durov was reportedly detained on Aug. 24 at an airport near Paris, though it remains unclear if he has been officially arrested or charged.

Initial reports suggested Durov faced charges related to Telegram’s content moderation practices, but no official confirmation has been provided.

The Washington Post reported that French authorities have confirmed Durov’s detention, but further details will only be disclosed in the upcoming statement.

In response to the situation, the Russian embassy has reached out to French officials, seeking access to Durov and more information about the circumstances of his detention.

An embassy spokesperson expressed frustration on Aug. 25, stating on Telegram that French authorities have "so far avoided cooperation on this issue."

The detention has led to a significant impact in the financial markets, with the price of TON cryptocurrency dropping by more than 12% following the news.

Despite the financial fallout, Durov has received widespread support from the cryptocurrency community and Telegram users.

Social media platforms, including X (formerly Twitter), have been flooded with messages advocating for Durov’s release, under the hashtag #FreeDurov.

Elon Musk, owner of X, joined the outpouring of support by sharing an earlier interview with Durov and reposting several supportive messages.

On Aug. 25, Telegram posted on X (formerly Twitter) defending its practices and Durov’s reputation, stressing their compliance with EU laws and the Digital Services Act.

"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. Almost a billion users globally use Telegram as means of communication and as a source of vital information. We’re awaiting a prompt resolution of this situation. Telegram is with you all." -@telegram