Telegram says it abides by EU laws after CEO is held

But messaging app questions the basis for France's detention of Pavel Durov

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PARIS - Telegram on Aug 25 questioned the grounds for France's detention of Mr Pavel Durov, the messaging app's billionaire co-founder and chief executive officer who was taken into custody at a Paris airport over the weekend.

The 39-year-old Russian-born billionaire was stopped on Aug 24 at Le Bourget airport north of Paris after stepping out of a private jet, according to France's TF1 TV station. The following day, the investigating magistrate extended his detention from 24 hours to up to 96 hours, Agence France-Presse reported.

Before that lapses on Aug 28 evening, the magistrate must decide whether to press charges against Mr Durov, release him without charges or name him as a witness in the investigation and let him go free.

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 Mr Durov has "nothing to hide".