French President Makes First Statement on Telegram Founder’s Arrest
French President Emmanuel Macron Officially Speaks on Pavel Durov’s Arrest
On August 26, French President Emmanuel Macron officially confirmed the arrest of Pavel Durov, founder and CEO of the Telegram messaging app. This is the first time Mr. Macron has made a public statement on this sensational case.
French President Emmanuel Macron speaks during a ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the Liberation of Paris next to Place Denfert Rochereau in Paris on August 25.
According to Mr. Macron, Mr. Durov’s arrest was not politically motivated. He affirmed that the arrest took place within the framework of an ongoing judicial investigation and was not a political decision. “The arrest of Pavel Durov was based on a decision by judges, not a politically motivated act,” Macron said on social media.
Details of the arrest and investigation
Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau said that Pavel Durov, 40, was arrested as part of an investigation into an unnamed individual. The investigation, launched by the prosecutor’s office’s cybercrime unit on July 8, involves serious charges. Durov is being investigated for operating an online platform that facilitated illegal transactions, child pornography, drug trafficking, fraud, and refusing to provide information to authorities. Other charges include money laundering and providing cryptographic services to criminals.
Durov can be held in custody until August 28, according to the statement. There is currently no official response from Mr. Durov’s lawyer.
Telegram and international reaction
Telegram, with nearly 1 billion users, is a popular messaging and social networking app, especially in Russia, Ukraine, and other former Soviet countries. Mr. Durov’s arrest has attracted widespread attention and criticism from many sides. Billionaire Elon Musk, owner of X, has criticized the arrest and warned that freedom of speech in Europe is under threat.
Pavel Durov is the CEO and founder of Telegram.
Mr. Durov, a citizen of France and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has received support from the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which has sent an urgent request to France to ensure that Mr. Durov receives all necessary consular services.
Pavel Durov’s arrest has become a hot topic in the international media, raising many questions about his motives and the charges against him. It will be important to monitor the further developments of this case and its implications for global freedom of expression.
