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Telegram was founded by Durov, who left Russia in 2014 after refusing to comply with demands to shut down opposition communities on the VK social media platform, which he has now sold.
Encrypted applications, Nearly 1 billion userswhich is particularly influential in Russia, Ukraine and the former Soviet republics, and is one of the main social media platforms after Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok and WeChat.
Born in Leningrad, Soviet Union and a graduate of Saint Petersburg State University, Durov lists his political views as “liberal” and says he is inspired by Apple co-founder Steve Jobs.
Durov, whose wealth is estimated by Forbes at $15.5 billion, said in April that some governments had tried to pressure him but that the app should remain a neutral platform and not a “geopolitical player.”
Durov, whose arrest made headlines in Russia, came up with the idea for the encrypted messaging app when he faced pressure from Russian authorities. The encryption technology was designed by his brother Nikolay.
“I would rather be free than take orders from anyone,” Durov said in April. He left Russia to look for a headquarters for his company, working in Berlin, London, Singapore and San Francisco.
Maria Butina, a Russian lawmaker who served 15 months in the United States for acting as an unregistered Russian agent, said Durov “is a political prisoner and a victim of Western persecution.”
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