Founder and CEO of Telegram Pavel Durov was arrested in France as a part of an investigation into crimes associated to little one pornography, drug trafficking and fraudulent transactions on the platform, French prosecutors mentioned Monday.
French President Emmanuel Macron, making the primary official affirmation of Durov’s arrest since he was detained at Le Bourget airport exterior Paris on Saturday night, mentioned there was no political motive within the arrest, regardless of many false feedback on-line. He added that France stays deeply dedicated to lawful free speech.
“The arrest of the Telegram president on French territory took place as part of an ongoing judicial investigation,” Macron wrote on X. “This is in no way a political decision. It is up to the judges to decide.”
In a subsequent assertion, Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau mentioned that Durov, who was born in Russia was arrested as a part of a probe into an unnamed individual launched by the workplace’s cybercrime unit on July 8.
The investigation is over suspected complicity in varied crimes together with working an internet platform that enables illicit transactions, little one pornography, drug trafficking and fraud, in addition to the refusal to speak info to authorities, cash laundering and offering cryptographic companies to criminals, the assertion mentioned.
On Tuesday, a spokesperson for the general public prosecutor mentioned Durov’s detention had been prolonged by as much as 48 hours late on Monday.
Reuters was unable to succeed in any lawyer representing Durov.
Telegram is a well-liked messaging and social media app akin to WhatsApp. The encrypted utility, with near 1 billion customers, is especially influential in Russia, Ukraine and the republics of the previous Soviet Union.
Durov’s arrest prompted criticism from X proprietor Elon Musk who mentioned that free speech in Europe was beneath assault, and calls from Moscow for French authorities to accord Durov his rights.
Tensions between France and Russia have been mounting for months, with French authorities accusing Russia of attempting to destabilize it forward of the Paris Olympics in response to its extra hawkish stance on the Ukraine battle – claims Russia denies.
Durov, a 39-year-old billionaire forged as “Russia’s Mark Zuckerberg,” has twin French and United Arab Emirates (UAE) citizenship.
The UAE Foreign Ministry, in its first remark, mentioned in an announcement that it had submitted a request to France “to provide him with all the necessary consular services in an urgent manner.”
At the identical time, a senior ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin alleged Washington was behind his arrest.
Without offering proof, Vyacheslav Volodin, the chair of Russia’s State Duma, the decrease home of parliament, mentioned the United States, via France, was trying to exert management over Telegram.
“Telegram is one of the few and at the same time the largest Internet platform over which the United States has no influence,” Volodin mentioned in a publish.
“On the eve of the U.S. presidential election, it is important for (President Joe) Biden to take Telegram under control.”
The White House didn’t instantly touch upon Durov’s arrest.
Estimated by Forbes to have a fortune of $15.5 billion, Durov mentioned in April some governments had sought to strain him, however the app ought to stay a impartial platform and never a “player in geopolitics.”
Telegram earlier in an announcement gave no particulars of the arrest however mentioned the Dubai-based firm abided by European Union legal guidelines and its moderation was “within industry standards and constantly improving.”
“Telegram’s CEO Pavel Durov has nothing to hide and travels frequently in Europe,” Telegram mentioned in an announcement. “It is absurd to claim that a platform or its owner are responsible for abuse of that platform.”
Kremlin response
The Kremlin on Monday mentioned it had but to see any official French accusations towards Durov.
“We do not yet know what exactly Durov is accused of,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov advised a news briefing. “With what exactly are they trying to incriminate Durov? Without (knowing), it would probably be wrong to make any statements.”
The Russian Embassy in Paris mentioned on X that French authorities had declined to cooperate with its requests for consular entry, however mentioned it was in touch with Durov’s lawyer. The embassy didn’t reply to a request for remark.
On Tuesday, nevertheless, the Kremlin mentioned that critical accusations France has leveled towards Durov could be seen as an try to limit freedom of communication until they have been backed up with critical proof.
Peskov advised reporters on a convention name that Russia was prepared to offer Durov with all mandatory help given his Russian citizenship, however he mentioned Durov’s French citizenship difficult the state of affairs.
“The charges are very serious indeed,” mentioned Peskov. “They require a no less serious basis of evidence. Otherwise, they will be a direct attempt to limit freedom of communication.”
Russia has beforehand tried, and failed, to dam Telegram and fined the corporate a number of occasions for failing to delete what it deemed unlawful content material.
Peskov mentioned Durov’s case might be seen as intimidation of the top of a giant firm and forged doubt on an assertion by Macron that there was no political motive in Durov’s detention.
French citizen
Telegram was based by Durov, a self-confessed libertarian who left Russia in 2014 after he refused to adjust to calls for to close down opposition communities on his VK social media platform, which he has offered.
He obtained his French passport in 2021 via a uncommon, fast-track process for high-profile foreigners exempting them from the standard authorized necessities, together with having lived within the nation for not less than 5 years.
The French Foreign Ministry, which is in command of the process, didn’t reply to a Reuters request for remark. The Elysee presidential workplace additionally declined to remark, deferring to the overseas ministry.
According to French regulation, any foreigner will be granted citizenship beneath the particular guidelines supplied he speaks French and “contributes through his outstanding work to France’s influence and the prosperity of its international economic relations.”
Durov by no means lived in France and it was unclear what particular hyperlink he needed to the nation. On June 10, Durov posted on his Telegram channel: “As a French citizen, I agree that France is the best holiday destination.”
His naturalization process is uncommon, with solely 10-20 circumstances processed every year and each requiring high-level political help, native media have reported.
Evan Spiegel, the co-founder of Snap, the maker of the Snapchat app, obtained French citizenship in 2018 beneath the identical program, native media reported on the time. Snap didn’t reply to a request for remark.
Aside from the citizenships in France and the UAE, Durov has been reported by Russian state media to even have citizenships in Russia and St. Kitts and Nevis. Reuters was unable to confirm these reviews.
Source: www.dailysabah.com