Nigel Farage has expressed concern over the arrest of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov, warning that other social media bosses such as Elon Musk could be “next” as a row over free speech erupts.

Mr Durov was arrested at Le Bourget airport outside Paris on Saturday after arriving on a flight from Azerbaijan over alleged offences relating to the secure messaging app.

The Russian, who holds French and United Arab Emirates (UAE) citizenship, is accused of failing to take action to address the use of the app for criminal activities.

But the recently elected MP and leader of Reform UK took to X to express his concerns over the arrest, warning it could be a deterrent against free speech.

He wrote on X: “The arrest of Pavel Durov is worrying. Telegram is a secure free speech app. It may have some bad actors, but then all platforms do.

“What next… the arrest of Elon Musk?” Mr Farage did not elaborate further.

Telegram offers end-to-end encrypted messaging and allows users to create channels to disseminate information to followers.

It has been a crucial tool throughout the Russia-Ukraine war, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his circle using it widely to release information about the conflict.

It is also a reliable source of information for Russians who are able to use it to get unfiltered information about the conflict after the Kremlin tightened media controls in the wake of the full-scale invasion.

Telegram said in a statement: “Telegram abides by EU laws, including the Digital Services Act – its moderation is within industry standards and constantly improving.

“Telegram’s CEO Pavel Durov has nothing to hide and travels frequently in Europe. It is absurd to claim that a platform or its owner are responsible for abuse of that platform. We’re awaiting a prompt resolution of this situation.”

Durov founded the app along with his brother in 2013 and was forced to leave Russia the following year after failing to comply with Kremlin requests to shut down opposition groups.