Reuters: Durov detained for failing to cooperate over cyber, financial crimes

Durov is under investigation by the French national cybercrime and fraud offices for failing to cooperate over cyber and financial crimes on Telegram, a popular messaging and social media app akin to WhatsApp, a police spokesman told Reuters, Report informs.

He is still in custody, the spokesman said.

The lack of official confirmation had led to speculation about the reasons behind his detention.

Pavel Durov, the Russian-born founder of messaging app Telegram, was arrested in France as part of an ongoing judicial investigation, and there was no political motive, French President Macron said on Monday.