On Monday, President Emmanuel Macron denied any political motives behind the arrest of Telegram founder Pavel Durov, who remains in French custody after his unexpected detainment at a Paris airport.
Questions have been raised regarding the timing and circumstances of Durov’s arrest.
Sources close to the case indicate that Durov is accused of failing to control illegal content on Telegram, which boasts over 900 million users.
Telegram has rejected these allegations.
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Durov, born in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg) during the Soviet era into a family of academics, spent part of his childhood in Italy before creating Russia’s largest social network, VKontakte (VK), in his early 20s.
He founded Telegram after leaving Russia a decade ago, and Forbes estimates his current net worth at $15.5 billion.
In a rare public comment on a legal matter, Macron addressed what he called “false information” about the case on the X social media platform.
He clarified that Durov’s arrest was part of an ongoing judicial investigation and not a political decision. “It is up to the judges to decide the matter,” Macron wrote.
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Durov, 39, holds both French and Russian citizenship. His detention was extended by an investigating magistrate on Sunday, with the initial detention period lasting up to 96 hours.
At the end of this period, the magistrate will decide whether to release Durov or press charges and continue his detention.
Durov, who has been residing in Dubai, arrived in Paris from Baku and was reportedly planning to have dinner in the city. He was accompanied by a bodyguard and a personal assistant.
A key question is why Durov entered France despite likely knowing he was under investigation. “Perhaps he felt a sense of impunity,” suggested a source close to the case.
Russian President Vladimir Putin was in Baku for a state visit on August 18-19, but Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has denied any meeting between Putin and Durov.
Durov faces accusations related to his failure to address criminal activities on Telegram.
France’s OFMIN, responsible for preventing violence against minors, issued an arrest warrant for Durov as part of a preliminary investigation into allegations including fraud, drug trafficking, cyberbullying, organized crime, and terrorism promotion.
In response, Telegram stated, “Durov has nothing to hide and frequently travels across Europe.”
The company emphasized that it complies with EU laws, including the Digital Services Act, and maintains moderation standards within the industry.
“It is absurd to claim that a platform or its owner is responsible for the abuse of that platform,” Telegram added.
Telegram has positioned itself as a “neutral” alternative to U.S.-owned platforms, which are criticized for exploiting user data.
It also plays a significant role in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, used actively by various political figures and commentators. However, it faces criticism for hosting illegal content and services.
Kremlin spokesperson Peskov stated that Moscow has not received details from France about Durov’s detention, saying, “We do not know concretely what Durov is accused of.”
Elon Musk, head of Tesla and X (formerly Twitter), posted the hashtag #FreePavel and commented in French, “Liberte Liberte! Liberte?” (Freedom Freedom! Freedom?).
Macron reiterated France’s commitment to freedom of expression and communication, stating that these freedoms are “upheld within a legal framework, both on social media and in real life.”
He emphasized that it is the judiciary’s role to enforce the law independently.
