Russia speaks out about France's arrest of Telegram founder
The Russian Embassy immediately stepped in to clarify the situation related to the French arrest of Telegram app founder Pavel Durov.
Telegram messaging app founder Pavel Durov. Photo: AFP
Russia's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on August 25 that France's decision to arrest Telegram co-founder and CEO Pavel Durov has raised questions about whether international organizations will demand his release or "go back on their word."
The Russian diplomat pointed out that in 2018, a group of 26 NGOs, including Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, Freedom House, Reporters Without Borders and many others, condemned the Russian court's decision to block the Telegram app.
"Do you think this time they will call Paris and demand Mr. Durov's release or will they go back on their word?", Ms. Zakharova commented on Telegram.
"There were legislative complaints against Telegram in 2018 and many countries complained due to the technical parameters of the application's encryption system," the Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman explained, adding that Telegram's CEO remained free and continued to develop the application during that time.
Local TV channelsLCIMr. Durov was arrested at Paris-Le Bourget airport at around 8:00 p.m. on August 24 (local time). Mr. Durov, 39, departed from Azerbaijan to the French capital Paris by private plane. The founder of the Telegram messaging app was accompanied by a woman and a bodyguard.
According toLCI, French authorities have issued an arrest warrant for the tech entrepreneur after a preliminary investigation. French authorities believe that Telegram's lack of adequate censorship, encryption tools and alleged lack of cooperation with the police could make Mr. Durov an accomplice in drug trafficking, cyber violence, fraud, organized crime, inciting terrorism...
Ms Zakharova confirmed that the Russian embassy "immediately stepped in" to clarify the situation regarding the arrest of the Telegram founder, "as they always do in a case, when there is information that one side has detained a Russian citizen".
“There is no need to remind our diplomats of their duties,” Ms. Zakharova added.
According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, the Russian Embassy in France has taken the necessary steps to clarify the situation surrounding the arrest, although Mr. Durov's representatives have not yet contacted the Russian diplomatic mission in France.
"In connection with the information about the arrest of Mr. Durov, the Russian embassy in France immediately took the necessary steps in such a situation to clarify the situation surrounding a Russian citizen, although the businessman's representatives did not file a complaint," the Russian Foreign Ministry said, adding that this work had begun before the Deputy Speaker of the State Duma (lower house) of Russia Vladislav Davankov contacted the Russian Foreign Ministry.
Earlier, Mr. Davankov contacted Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov with a request to find a way to release Mr. Durov.
“Hardly anyone else has done more for the development of digital services in Russia and the world,” Mr. Danakov expressed support for the Telegram founder.
"We need to get him out of there. I have urged Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to appeal to the French authorities to release Pavel Durov from detention. His arrest could be politically motivated and used to access personal information of Telegram users. We cannot allow this to happen," the Russian politician wrote on Telegram.
According to the Russian official, in case Paris refuses to release Mr. Durov, "everything must be done to bring him to the UAE or Russia, of course if he agrees."
Mr. Danakov dismissed the accusations against the Telegram CEO, saying that illegal activity can be found on all messaging platforms. “But no one arrested or imprisoned their owners. And that should not happen this time,” the Russian official said.
Pavel Durov was born in St. Petersburg, Russia. In 2006, he founded the social media platform VK, often described as the "Facebook of Russia." In 2013, he launched Telegram, which now has more than 950 million monthly active users.
Mr. Durov left Russia in the mid-2010s and lived mainly in the UAE. He became a French citizen in 2021. He holds citizenship of Russia, France, the UAE, and Saint Kitts and Nevis.
Mr. Durov is scheduled to appear in court on August 25, facing up to 20 years in prison, according to the news channel.TF1.
Telegram ranks as one of the major social media platforms after Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok and Wechat. The platform aims to reach one billion users next year.
After Russia launched its military campaign in Ukraine in 2022, Telegram became the main platform for both Russia and Ukraine to report on the fighting and political situation surrounding the conflict.
The app has become a favorite media outlet for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his administration officials. The Kremlin and the Russian government also use the app to spread Russian propaganda. It is also one of the few platforms where Russians can access news about the war in Ukraine.
Durov, whose property wasForbesestimated to be worth around $15.5 billion, said several governments have sought to pressure him, but the Telegram app, which now has 900 million active users, remains a “neutral platform” and not “a player in geopolitics”.
