PARIS: Telegram has questioned the grounds for France’s detention of chief executive officer Pavel Durov, the messaging app’s billionaire co-founder who was taken into custody at a Paris airport over the weekend.

Durov, 39, was detained at Le Bourget last Saturday on suspicion of failing to take steps to prevent criminal use of Telegram, according to AFP. His original detention was extended by 24 hours next day, a judicial official said.

Telegram issued a statement on its platform and on X, formerly known as Twitter, saying the Dubai-based company abides by European laws, including the Digital Services Act, and that Durov has “nothing to hide”.

“It is absurd to claim that a platform or its owner are responsible for abuse of that platform,” according to the statement. “We’re awaiting a prompt resolution of this situation.”

Durov lives in Dubai and is a citizen of France and the United Arab Emirates, according to the Telegram website. He hasn’t previously commented on whether he has renounced his Russian citizenship.

Russia’s embassy in Paris said it asked “French authorities for an explanation of the reasons and demanded that they ensure the protection of his rights and provide consular access”. Embassy officials are in touch with Durov’s lawyer, according to the statement.

France’s Ofmin, an agency set up to combat violence against minors, issued an arrest warrant for Durov, AFP reported.

Ofmin is the coordinating agency in a preliminary probe into alleged offences such as fraud, drug trafficking, cyberbullying, organised crime and promotion of terrorism, according to AFP. Toncoin, a cryptocurrency linked to Telegram, sank as much as 23% on news that Durov was in custody.

 - Bloomberg