Pavel Durov, the CEO of Telegram, found himself under arrest at Bourget airport near Paris on Saturday evening. This unexpected event came as a result of an arrest warrant issued by French authorities amid a preliminary police investigation. Reports indicate that following Durov’s arrest, a mysterious woman named Juli Vavilova has become a person of interest and is currently being questioned due to her association with him.
Vavilova had been seen in Durov’s company multiple times in the days preceding his arrest. They reportedly visited Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Azerbaijan before their arrival in France, where law enforcement officials detained them after landing at Le Bourget airport near Paris.
Juli Vavilova, a 24-year-old woman based in Dubai, describes herself as a crypto instructor and social media influencer, according to her Instagram profile. Vavilova’s social media posts primarily revolve around travel, gaming, exercise and cryptocurrency. She is active across multiple social media platforms including Telegram, Instagram, Twitch, TikTok and YouTube, where she shares a variety of content. Vavilova is reportedly fluent in English, Russian, Spanish and Arabic languages.
Some conspiracy theorists on social media have reportedly speculated that Juli Vavilova might be connected to Mossad. However, no official confirmation has been provided by any authorities. Her exact role in Pavel Durov’s detention remains unclear.
Her social media activities, particularly photos with Pavel Durov in Paris, have sparked concerns within the crypto community, with some fearing that she may have inadvertently or deliberately exposed their location to investigators.
According to AFP, there has been no contact with Juli Vavilova since Durov’s arrest. The primary focus of the French police investigation is Telegram’s lack of content moderation, which law enforcement believes has facilitated illegal activities on the platform.
Durov is widely recognised as a staunch advocate for free speech, especially in the context of the increasingly restrictive online regulations being introduced globally. Figures such as Elon Musk and NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden, both known for their support of free speech, have expressed their solidarity with Durov. Many social media users have also joined the call for his release.
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