“For Russian intelligence, this is very bad. It’s a complete failure,” Kovalenko commented on the aftermath of the arrest of Telegram’s founder.
On Sep. 12, the French newspaper Libération reported that Telegram started cooperating with French investigators following the detention of Durov.
On Sep. 6, Durov announced upcoming changes in the platform's moderation policies, citing the interests of the platform’s “one billion users.”
The arrest of Pavel Durov: What we know
On Aug. 24, Telegram’s founder, Pavel Durov, who is of Russian origin and holds citizenship in at least four countries, was arrested at an airport in Paris after returning from Azerbaijan on a private jet.
French law enforcement believes that by refusing to moderate content on the platform, Durov became an accomplice to crimes committed through Telegram. Durov has been charged with 12 offenses, including drug distribution, cybercrimes, fraud, and possession of child pornography.
On Aug. 8, Durov was placed under judicial supervision and released on bail for €5 million. According to French media, Durov stated during interrogation that he had cooperated with French counterintelligence and provided his phone to the police.