Let’s continue talking about one of the most interesting people in the world of technology – Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram and VKontakte. His life is a real thriller, involving conflicts with security services, fleeing from Russia, and creating a revolutionary messenger.
Imagine this scenario: you create something cool, like a social network or a messenger, but it lands you in a real spy thriller. This is not a movie plot, but a reality for Pavel Durov. Can you imagine that he refused to cooperate with the security services when they demanded data on Ukrainian activists during the Euromaidan protests?
Durov not only said “no,” but also decided it was better to sell his shares and leave Russia, as it was impossible to do business there without working for the government. And this is where his adventures truly begin. When he launched Telegram, new problems rained down on him like manna from heaven. The Russian authorities demanded encryption keys to spy on users, but Durov stood firm. As a result, Russia even tried to block Telegram, but it turned out to be a futile effort.
And that’s not all: in 2024, he is arrested in France! Why? European authorities believe that due to Telegram’s security, criminals are freely using the platform. Pavel now faces up to 20 years in prison. But Telegram continues to operate, and the company is ready for such a scenario, so users shouldn’t worry.
In addition, there are rumors that Pavel is the biological father of over 100 children through sperm donation. In other words, his life is a series with constant plot twists!
How the arrest happened
Imagine this scene: Pavel Durov, the creator of Telegram, is flying on a private plane from Azerbaijan to France when suddenly he is arrested there! This happened on August 24, and the reason is quite serious – the French authorities accuse his messenger of facilitating drug trafficking, crimes against children, fraud, and even terrorism. They say that due to the encrypted messages in Telegram, criminals could act uncontrollably, and for this, Durov could now be sentenced to 20 years in prison.
But here’s the catch: Telegram does not plan to stop its operation, even if Pavel is imprisoned. They have already prepared an action plan, as the messenger’s operational center is located in Dubai, and the servers are scattered around the world. It is likely that his brother will continue to manage the company.
Why did Durov fly to France knowing that he could be detained there? And what was he doing in Azerbaijan at all? This is still a mystery. There are rumors that he might have met with Putin, but there is no confirmation of this.
Read the first part of the series “From freedom of speech to handcuffs: the mystery of Pavel Durov’s arrest” here:
