France claims that the lack of moderation towards Telegram and Pável Dúrov’s lack of cooperation with the authorities, together with the tools the platform provides, such as disposable numbers and cryptography, make him complicit in crimes such as drug trafficking, paedophilia and fraud.
The French authorities they have arrested on saturday evening Pavel Durovco-founder of Telegram, the Russian-origin encrypted instant messaging platform as he stepped off his private plane on the tarmac at Paris-Le Bourget airport, coming from Azerbaijan, according to local media reports.
The 39-year-old French-Russian billionaire, who was held by the Air Transport Gendarmerie, was served with a French arrest warrant issued by the National Directorate of Criminal Investigation’s Youth Office (OFMIN) on the basis of a preliminary investigation.
French justice says the lack of moderation towards Telegram and the lack of cooperation of Pável Dúrov with the authorities, together with the tools offered by the platform, such as disposable numbers and cryptography, make it a problem. complicit in crimes such as drug trafficking, pedophilia and fraud.
The Telegram co-founder is expected to appear before an investigating judge in the coming hours, where he could face charges including terrorism, drug trafficking, complicity, fraud, money laundering and the dissemination of paedophile content, reports French media.
Telegram is an instant messaging application for electronic devices launched in 2013 by Dúrov and his brother Nikolai as an alternative to the WhatsApp application. It is based in Dubai, where Durov has lived since 2017.
Durov holds Russian citizenship, but also French citizenship, which he received in 2021, and the United Arab Emirates.
Russian deputies and senators demand release
On Sunday, Russian deputies and senators demanded the release of Pavel Durov. Vladislav Davankov, vice president of the State Duma, or Chamber of Deputies, urged Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to call on the French authorities to release Pavel Durov, stressing that “almost no one has done more for the development of digital public services in Russia and the world”.
He and other Russian deputies and senators have expressed suspicion that the arrest is politically motivated and an attempt to gain access to the confidential information of Telegram users.
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, in turn, has assured that for Moscow’s enemies, Durov is “Russian and therefore unpredictable and dangerous.”
Elon Musk calls for freedom for Durov
X magnate and owner Elon Musk has called for the freedom of Pavel Durov.
Source: EITB
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
