The founder of the encrypted messaging app Telegram been arrested by French police and is expected to appear in court on Sunday, according to French media.
Pavel Durov, 39, was detained on arrival at Le Bourget airport near Paris on Saturday night after travelling by private jet from Baku, Azerbaijan.
French TV channels, BFMTV and TF1, both suggested his arrest was related to the Russian-born entrepreneur’s failure to tackle criminal activity on the popular messaging service.
Sources told the AFP press agency that a preliminary investigation had been launched into alleged offences including fraud, drug trafficking, cyberbullying, organised crime and promotion of terrorism.
The arrest has not yet been confirmed by French authorities or Telegram.
Russia’s embassy in France told Russia’s Tass state news agency