Nikolaj Kononov

author

Nikolaj Kononov is a Russian publicist and biographer known for his in-depth exploration of controversial figures in the tech industry, particularly Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram. His recent work, titled 'Populist', aims to fill the gaps in Durov's biography, detailing his journey from a student in St. Petersburg to a global tech mogul with over a billion users on his platform. Kononov's research spanned 14 years, during which he engaged with Durov, his colleagues, competitors, and critics to analyze Durov's mindset and strategies. His portrayal of Durov highlights the complexities of being a digital populist who advocates for absolute freedom of expression while simultaneously exercising significant control over his communication platform.