Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of Telegram, on Wednesday is under formal investigation related to illicit activities on the messaging app. French authorities have also prohibited him from leaving the country, CNN reported.
The UAE's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement early on Tuesday that it was "closely following" Durov's case and that it had "submitted a request to the French government to provide him with all consular services urgently."
Officers from France's anti-fraud office, attached to French customs, took Durov into custody on Saturday evening after he arrived at Bourget Airport on a flight from Azerbaijan.