Who is Pavel Durov? The leader of Telegram who becomes a common enemy in western countries

LYRICS – Founder and CEO Telegram Pavel Durov was arrested in France on Saturday night (24/8/2024). ,

The Russian embassy in France requested consular access to Durov and his rights were guaranteed, Russian state news agency TASS reported. The embassy said France had so far “avoided involvement” in the situation with Durov.

Who is Pavel Durov? The leader of Telegram who becomes a common enemy in western countries

1. Young entrepreneur who founded Telegram

Pavel Durov, a 39-year-old Russian-born entrepreneur, is the billionaire founder and CEO of the messaging app Telegram. Forbes estimates his wealth at USD 15.5 billion.

2. First Established VKontakte, Facebook of Russia

Durov’s journey into the world of social media began with VKontakte, often referred to as the “Russian Facebook”, which he co-founded in 2006. VKontakte quickly became the largest social networking site in Russia, but it also put Durov against the Russian government.

In 2014, under pressure to shut down opposition communities on VKontakte, Durov refused to surrender and left Russia. He sold his shares in VKontakte and began his own exile.

3. Founded Telegram that became a geopolitical force

According to the Hindustan Times, in 2013, Durov launched Telegram, a messaging application that emphasizes user privacy with an encrypted messaging feature.

Since then, Telegram has become a strong competitor for platforms like WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok and WeChat. Currently, the app has hundreds of millions of users worldwide, with the goal of surpassing one billion monthly active users within the next year.

Telegram has a special influence in Russia, Ukraine and other Soviet countries, where it is an important source of information, especially in the context of the ongoing war in Ukraine. Both Russian and Ukrainian officials have relied heavily on the platform, which some analysts have called a “virtual battlefield” for the conflict.

4. Nomadic Lifestyle

Since leaving Russia, Durov has lived a nomadic lifestyle, always looking for a safe haven for himself and his company. His search for a home for Telegram took him to Berlin, London, Singapore, and San Francisco before settling on Dubai, where it is currently headquartered.

5. Have multiple citizenship statuses

Durov became a French citizen in 2021 and reportedly holds citizenship in the United Arab Emirates as well as St. Saint Kitts and Nevis, a two-island country in the Caribbean.

6. Forever seeking Freedom

Telegram’s popularity is not without challenges. In 2018, Russia tried to block the app after Durov refused to give state security services access to users’ encrypted messages. The ban was largely ineffective, but it sparked protests and criticism from NGOs.

Recently, European countries, including France, have investigated Telegram over security issues and data breaches. The app’s growth in Europe has drawn the attention of European Union regulators, who may impose tougher requirements on Telegram under new online content laws.

“I’d rather be free than take orders from anyone,” Durov told US correspondent Tucker Carlson in April about his departure from Russia and the search for a headquarters for his his company.

(ahem)