Yulia Vavilova, a crypto coach and streamer from Dubai, has been detained alongside Telegram founder Pavel Durov by local police in France, according to several media reports. Vavilova has been spotted with Durov on multiple occasions and was on the private jet that brought them both to Paris, as claimed by various news outlets.
Durov, a Russian tech mogul who is also a citizen of France, the UAE, and Saint Kitts and Nevis, was arrested after his private jet landed at Paris-Le Bourget Airport on Saturday. He is reportedly being accused of failing to curb criminal activities on his platform. The close relationship between Durov and Vavilova has not been made public; however, their frequent appearances together suggest a close connection.
Vavilova, who has more than 22,000 followers on Instagram, posted stories from what is believed to be Durov’s private jet as well as several pictures of herself while she was reportedly together with the entrepreneur in Paris. The timing of their arrival and subsequent arrest in the French capital has led to widespread speculation about Vavilova’s role in Durov’s detention, with some reports suggesting that she may have unintentionally or deliberately attracted the attention of authorities with her numerous posts revealing Durov’s location.
Telegram, which boasts approximately 1 billion active monthly users, was created by Durov and his brother in 2013 in Russia. The entrepreneur left Russia in the mid-2010s and settled in Dubai. He was granted French citizenship in 2021.
In response to Durov’s arrest, Telegram announced on Sunday that the company complies with EU laws and content-moderation policies. The company also described it as “absurd” to claim that Durov is responsible for the misuse of the platform by bad actors. Several Russian politicians condemned Durov’s arrest, with some speculating that it may be politically motivated.
Public figures in the West have also spoken out in Durov’s defense, including journalist Tucker Carlson and entrepreneur Elon Musk.