The official statement from France confirmed the apprehension and detention of Pavel Durov, the CEO and co-founder of Telegram, at Le Bourget airport in Paris on Saturday night local time, following the landing of his private jet.
French authorities justified the arrest of Durov due to various cases in the country, such as child pornography (CSAM), drug offenses, and crimes facilitated through Telegram as a communication platform. However, the company has refused to cooperate with the investigations, citing compliance with European Union laws and the Digital Markets Act (DMA).
Nevertheless, Durov’s detention has been viewed by many as a political issue between countries, as he is a Russian national and the founder of VK, but has been residing outside of Russia for the past seven years, holding citizenship in the UAE and France. This incident has sparked protests outside the French embassy in Russia, with demonstrators flying paper airplanes symbolizing Telegram, while Russian officials have stated they are monitoring the situation.
French President Emmanuel Macron reiterated that Durov’s arrest is a matter of ongoing legal investigation and not a political directive. France remains steadfast in its support for freedom of expression, innovation, and entrepreneurship in accordance with the rule of law.
TLDR: Pavel Durov, CEO of Telegram, was detained in France due to legal investigations related to various crimes, leading to tensions between countries but reaffirming France’s commitment to freedom and the rule of law.
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