French President Emmanuel Macron has denied any political involvement in the arrest of Telegram founder Pavel Durov, who remains in French custody following his unexpected detention at a Paris airport.
Durov, the tech billionaire behind the encrypted messaging platform with over 900 million users, was arrested on accusations related to the spread of illegal content on Telegram.
Macron addressed the situation directly in a post on X (formerly Twitter), dismissing claims of political motivation as “false information.” He emphasized that Durov’s arrest is part of an ongoing judicial investigation and stated, “It is in no way a political decision. It is up to the judges to rule on the matter.”
Durov, who holds both Russian and French citizenship, has been in custody since Sunday and is expected to remain detained until Wednesday, following an extension granted by French authorities. The ongoing investigation may lead to Durov either being released or formally charged after his initial 96-hour detention period concludes.
The timing and circumstances of Durov’s arrest have drawn attention. Having arrived in Paris from Baku, Azerbaijan, Durov, who is based in Dubai, seemed aware of the legal risks. A source close to the investigation suggested that Durov might have felt a sense of impunity, while others speculate about his reasons for traveling to France despite the legal concerns.
French officials, particularly from the Office for the Fight Against Violence towards Minors (OFMIN), are investigating Durov for potential offenses including fraud, drug trafficking, cyberbullying, organized crime, and the promotion of terrorism. The focus is on Telegram’s alleged failure to moderate illegal content on the platform.
In response to the allegations, Telegram has asserted that Durov has “nothing to hide” and that the platform operates within EU laws, including the Digital Services Act. The company has rejected the notion that Durov or Telegram should be held accountable for illegal activities conducted by users.
The case has attracted international attention, with notable figures such as Elon Musk voicing support for Durov. Musk used X to post with the hashtag #FreePavel, questioning the situation with the message, “Liberte Liberte! Liberte?” (Freedom Freedom! Freedom?).
Despite the controversy, Macron reaffirmed France’s commitment to freedom of expression, but underscored that such freedoms must operate within a legal framework. “It is up to the judiciary, in full independence, to enforce the law,” Macron concluded.
As Durov’s legal situation progresses, the tech world remains closely watchful, given Telegram’s significant role in global communications and its use by various parties in geopolitical conflicts, including the ongoing war in Ukraine.
