Telegram CEO Pavel Durov Breaks Silence After France Arrest in Tucker Carlson Interview.
In his first interview since being detained in France in August 2024, Telegram founder Pavel Durov spoke with Tucker Carlson in a conversation marked by controlled urgency and visible frustration.
Appearing composed but clearly unsettled, Durov recounted the circumstances of his arrest and reflected on the legal and personal fallout that has followed, calling into question the motivations behind France’s actions.
“I’m puzzled,” Durov admitted with visible frustration. “To be honest, I’m still looking for answers.”
Telegram founder Pavel Durov has effectively been under house arrest in France since he was arrested there ten months ago. For the first time, he explains why.
(0:00) Being Arrested in France
(10:57) France’s Attempt to Humiliate and Tarnish Durov
(15:54) Did the Russian… pic.twitter.com/mTfNak10eK— Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) June 9, 2025
The Arrest That Shocked the Tech World
On August 24, 2024, Durov was detained at Le Bourget Airport. Not questioned. Not warned. Just taken and placed in solitary confinement for four days, completely cut off. No lawyer. No phone calls. No explanation that made sense.
French authorities claim Telegram ignored legal requests linked to money laundering and other criminal activity. But Durov flatly denies it.
“They said we didn’t respond to their legal requests, but that’s completely false,” he told Carlson. “We fully complied with every legally binding request we received.”
The whole situation, he says, feels off. Political even. Like someone, somewhere, wanted a message sent and he became the delivery mechanism.
Telegram’s Global Reach and Compliance Efforts
Durov wasn’t just defending himself, he was defending the company he built from the ground up.
Telegram, he explained, isn’t some shadowy operation hiding from oversight. It’s a global tech force serving nearly a billion users in about 200 countries. That scale doesn’t come without scrutiny.
“We spend millions every quarter ensuring our compliance and audit processes meet international standards,” he said.
That includes working with one of the Big Four accounting firms and partnering with financial institutions across multiple jurisdictions.
And yet, despite all of that, France came after him. “It’s friendly fire,” Durov said. “They’re not just hurting me, they’re hurting their own image as champions of civil liberties.”
His point? This isn’t about a missed email or a legal technicality. It’s about whether a tech founder can stand up for user privacy and not get crushed for it.
“This is not about me alone,” he added. “It sends a chilling message to platforms that stand firm against censorship and backdoors.”
Personal Toll and Legal Implications
While the public sees headlines, Durov is living the consequences. He’s still under judicial supervision in France. He can’t leave the country freely. He needs permission for everything, including visiting his kids or his seriously ill mother.
That weighs heavily. And it’s not just legal or emotional, there are serious security concerns too. He revealed that his phone number had shown up on the infamous Pegasus spyware target list, along with thousands of others.
“It makes you wonder how far they’re willing to go to monitor or intimidate people,” he said quietly.
Despite everything, he’s not backing down. “We did nothing wrong,” Durov told Carlson again, with firmness. “I won’t stop seeking justice.”
Privacy advocates are alarmed. And tech founders everywhere are probably asking: if this can happen to Durov, who’s next?
The French legal system will have to justify its actions and fast. Because the world is watching. And so is Durov.
“This is bigger than me,” he said. “It’s about what kind of future we want for free communication.”
People Also Ask
How is Pavel Durov so rich?
Pavel Durov amassed his wealth primarily through the creation of VKontakte (Russia’s largest social media platform) and later Telegram, the encrypted messaging app with nearly a billion users. He reportedly invested early in Bitcoin and other digital assets as well.
How many children does the CEO of Telegram have?
Pavel Durov is known to be very private about his personal life, but reports suggest he has at least two children. He has largely kept his family out of the public eye.
How did Pavel Durov get his hair back?
Though never confirmed publicly, online speculation suggests Durov may have undergone a hair restoration treatment or transplant in the mid-2010s. He has not addressed this directly.
How many languages does Pavel Durov know?
Durov is fluent in Russian and English and is reported to have a strong grasp of Italian, French, and German. He’s also known for his interest in classical languages like Latin.