The founder of Telegram and Free Speech Advocate Pavev Durov was born on October 10, 1984, in St.
While studying at Saint Petersburg State University, Durov has been inspired by the success of the social media site on Facebook and its founder, Mark Zuckerberg – eventually starts the social media platform vkontakte (VK) in 2006.
VK is a platform similar to Facebook but dedicated to Russian speakers, and it is one of the largest social media platforms in the world.
A picture of Pavel Durov as a teenager. Source: Cointelegraph
The meteoric growth of the platform eventually attracts the attention of state regulators, forcing the company to conclude the platform and comply with government requests to provide user information.
Durov refused to comply with these requests from a principal stance on freedom of speech, online expressions, and user privacy, which led to the erection of the Tech founder from the company he started in 2014.
However, the founder of Tech was already diligent in his next adventure before leaving VK, a messaging platform that became a household name in the crypto – Telegram.
Related: Ton Society celebrates Pavel Durov leaving France as a free speech win
Pavel and his brother Nikolai Durov launching Telegram
Durov Brothers launched the Telegram in 2013. Since then, the platform has been Gained more than 950 million users worldwide Due to its privacy improvement technology, which ends with messages.
Telegram also has stable features that include decentralized web surfing, A torrent of mini-apps and games.
The platform also has a Symbiotic relationship with open network (Ton) – a separate blockchain network that has become a staple for messaging application users.
The founder of the Telegram discussing the messaging applications at the Techcrunch’s Disrupt Conference. Source: Techcrunch
According to ForbesThe founder of the Telegram has a net worth $ 17.1 billion until March 16, 2025 – mainly by his telegram owner.
In March 2024, the businessman announced Telegram’s income is about to and considers an initial public offer to become a company that has been publicly exchanged.
Pavel Durov was a libertarian and infused Liberty-minded ethos on the Telegram. In a post of January 2025, Durov write:
“I’m proud that Telegram supported freedom of speech before it became politically safe to do so. Our values do not depend on US election cycles.”
The Libertarian Ethos of the Telegram founder, the promise of free speech, and the privacy of the businessman eventually put the French government crosshair.
Pavev Durov was arrested in France in the midst of tears of political censorship
Pavel Durov is Arrested in France On August 24, 2024, due to lack of moderation of content on the telegram, and French prosecutors are subsequently charged with complexity in illegal activities and refusal to communicate with the authorities.
Durov was talking to independent news host Tucker Carlson about free speech and privacy shortly before he was arrested in August 2024. Source: Tucker Carlson
Shortly after his arrest, the founder of the Telegram posted a bail and released from the condition that he stay in France during the legal trial.
The arrest is spread anger Crypto communities and independent speech advocates around the world, condemned the French government for the use of state power in an attempt to force Pavev Durov to conclude the platform or providing the government with the keys of the telegram.
French president Emmanuel Macron has been accused of regulating a political arrest, a Claim that the leader of France is rejectedwhich only motivates more backlash from the crypto community.
On March 15, Pavel Durov reported to leave France And heading to Dubai, where the Telegram was headquarter, after receiving permission from French law enforcement officials to leave the country.
However, it is unclear how long Durov will remain in Dubai, as the global battle continues for freedom of speech, privacy, and autonomy.
Magazine: Was Telegram’s Pavev Durov committed a crime? Crypto lawyers weigh
