A French investigative judge has extended the police custody of Pavel Durov, the CEO of the popular messaging app Telegram, as part of an ongoing judicial inquiry involving 12 alleged criminal violations. These violations include complicity in selling child sexual abuse material, drug trafficking, fraud, abetting organized crime transactions, and refusal to share information with investigators as required by law.
Durov, who holds citizenship in Russia, France, the United Arab Emirates, and St. Kitts and Nevis, was detained at Le Bourget airport on Saturday and his custody was extended for up to 48 hours on Monday evening.
