A RUSSIAN lady seen with Telegram founder Pavel Durov has vanished after the billionaire was arrested in Paris.
Yulia Vavilova, 24, arrived on the French capitol with Durov – however is nowhere to be seen since he was detained close to his personal jet on Saturday.
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Vavilova’s household in Russia claims Vavilova has been unreachable on the telephone – and say they do not know if she has been arrested as properly or if she is simply laying low.
Mum Ekaterina informed Russian media shops: “We bought the information [of Durov’s arrest] from the media.
“[Since then] Yulia’s telephone shouldn’t be answering.”
Footage reveals Vavilova having breakfast with Durov and his friends in Baku, Azerbaijan, shortly earlier than they boarded the personal jet to Paris.
One other clip, reportedly shot by Vavilova, reveals Durov driving round in Kazakhstan – simply days earlier than his arrest.
They have been additionally seen collectively firing photographs at a taking pictures vary in Azerbaijan.
Her social media postings allegedly gave French cops Durov’s actions forward of his go to to France the place he was held.
Initially from Moscow, Vavilova has lived in Dubai for over two years.
Dubbed “Crypto Coach”, she is a crypto investor who runs a channel about cryptocurrency in Arabic – a language she speaks fluently.
It comes as prosecutors in France say Durov’s arrest is a part of a wider investigation “in opposition to individual unnamed” based mostly on a slew of potential expenses associated to the Telegram app.
The probe is purportedly involved with inadequate moderation of the platform, with Durov being accused of neglecting to take motion to forestall illegal use of Telegram.
Telegram is among the most-used encrypted messaging companies on this planet, with simply shy of a billion customers.
The app is often known as an “encrypted” service, that means the contents of messages are scrambled to allow them to solely be deciphered utilizing a secret decryption key.
Whereas the app was designed for the pretty innocuous goal of safeguarding consumer privateness, this made it equally enticing to unhealthy actors.
A case was opened final month to analyze prison actions together with drug gross sales, baby pornography and fraud on the platform, the New York Times reviews.
Authorities say that the platform’s lack of moderation, neglect to collaborate with law enforcement, and the devices it gives – together with disposable numbers and cryptocurrency – make it an confederate within the illegal acts allegedly discovered on the app.
Durov is even stated to have “didn’t cease terrorism” on his platform within the identify of free speech.
Nevertheless, the Russian-born technocrat has refuted allegations that he let these crimes happen.
Telegram has slammed the “absurd declare” in opposition to its founder and CEO, saying Durov has “nothing to cover” after being arrested.
The corporate stated in a press release: “Telegram abides by EU legal guidelines, together with the Digital Companies Act – its moderation is inside trade requirements.
“Pavel Durov has nothing to cover and travels regularly in Europe.
“It’s absurd to assert {that a} platform or its proprietor is answerable for abuse of that platform. We’re awaiting a immediate decision of this case. Telegram is with you all.”
Regardless of Durov’s contested historical past with the Kremlin, the Russian Embassy in France launched a press release on X calling for his launch.
“We instantly requested the French authorities for an evidence of the explanations and demanded that his rights be protected and that consular entry be granted,” the put up learn.
“As of as we speak, the French aspect has to this point averted cooperation on this challenge.” The embassy stated it stays involved with Durov’s lawyer.
A self-exiled tech mogul
PAVEL Durov has been in self-imposed exile primarily because of his conflicts with the Russian government over issues related to censorship, privacy, and political freedom.
The main reason for Durov’s exile stems from his time as the CEO of VKontakte (VK), the social media platform he based.
In the course of the 2011-2012 anti-Putin protests, Russian authorities demanded that Durov hand over the non-public knowledge of protest organizers and shut down opposition teams on VK.
Durov refused to adjust to these calls for, which put him on a collision course with the Russian authorities.
In 2014, Durov was once more pressured by Russian authorities, this time over his refusal to dam a VK group that supported the Ukrainian Euromaidan protests and his refusal at hand over the information of Ukrainian customers to the FSB (Federal Safety Service).
Following these incidents, he confronted authorized challenges, and his management over VK was weakened.
In April 2014, Durov was pressured to resign as CEO of VK, and shortly after, he bought his remaining shares within the firm.
This resignation and sale have been doubtless not voluntary however a results of immense stress from Russian authorities and presumably from business pursuits near the Kremlin.
After dropping management of VK, Durov determined to go away Russia, stating that the nation was “incompatible with web enterprise in the mean time.”
Since leaving Russia in 2014, Durov has lived in self-imposed exile.
He grew to become a citizen of Saint Kitts and Nevis via an financial citizenship program and has lived in numerous international locations, adopting a nomadic way of life.
Durov continued to advocate for privateness, freedom of speech, and resistance to authorities surveillance—ideas which might be typically at odds with the insurance policies of the Russian authorities.
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