Pavel Durov: We will not sell Telegram

"We're not going to sell the company like the founders of WhatsApp did. The world needs Telegram as an independent project that respects the rights of users and provides high-quality service. Telegram must continue to serve as a model for a technology company that strives for excellence and integrity."

Founder of Telegram messenger Pavel Durov wrote in his Telegram channel.

P. Durov noted that the number of active users of the messenger is approaching 500 million. Its maintenance requires "at least several hundred million dollars."

"All Telegram messaging services will remain ad-free. We believe that advertising in personal and group chats is unacceptable."