By Chris Johnson The Russian government has issued a stern warning to France over the arrest of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov, cautioning...
By Chris Johnson
The Russian government has issued a stern warning to France
over the arrest of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov, cautioning against what it
perceives as attempts to intimidate the tech billionaire.
DAILY POST reports that Durov, 39, was detained in Paris
over the weekend on charges of failing to prevent the spread of illegal content
on Telegram, allegations his company firmly denies.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov expressed Russia’s concerns
on Tuesday, stating, “The charges are indeed very serious and require no less
serious evidence. Otherwise, this would be a direct attempt to restrict freedom
of communication and, I might even say, directly intimidate the head of a large
company.”
The arrest of Durov, who also holds citizenship in France,
the UAE, and St. Kitts and Nevis, has sparked international attention.
French authorities apprehended him at Paris–Le Bourget
Airport on Saturday after he arrived from Azerbaijan by private jet.
The Paris Public Prosecutor’s Office has outlined a series
of potential charges against him, including complicity in drug dealing, money
laundering, and facilitating the distribution of child pornography.
In response to the arrest, French President Emmanuel Macron
stated the independence of the judiciary in a statement posted on his verified
X (formerly Twitter) account.
Macron reassured that the legal proceedings surrounding
Durov’s detention were not politically motivated, saying, “France is deeply
committed to freedom of expression and communication, to innovation, and to the
spirit of entrepreneurship.
“It will remain so. In a state governed by the rule of law,
freedoms are upheld within a legal framework, both on social media and in real
life, to protect citizens and respect their fundamental rights.”
Macron further clarified, “The arrest of the president of
Telegram on French soil took place as part of an ongoing judicial
investigation. It is in no way a political decision. It is up to the judges to
rule on the matter.”
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