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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Pjotr Sauer

Biography aims to fill gaps in story of ultra-libertarian Telegram founder Pavel Durov

Telegram co-founder Pavel Durov
Telegram co-founder Pavel Durov has clashed repeatedly with the authorities. Photograph: Tatan Syuflana/AP

Tech visionary, Kremlin dissident, FSB agent, free speech absolutist, health guru. These are just some of the labels admirers and critics have attached to Pavel Durov over the past decade.

The Russian-born tech entrepreneur founded Russia’s version of Facebook before going on to create the messaging app Telegram, launch a cryptocurrency ecosystem and amass a multibillion-dollar fortune, all while clashing repeatedly with authorities in Russia and beyond.

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