MOSCOW: The Kremlin warned France against turning the criminal case against Telegram founder Pavel Durov into “political persecution.” The key concern is that the situation in France does not escalate into political persecution,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated, in reference to the case involving alleged violations on the social media platform. Telegram CEO Pavel Durov was granted bail on Wednesday by a French judge under specific conditions after being formally investigated in connection with an organized crime probe involving the messaging app. According to Reuters, the conditions include paying €5 million, reporting to the police twice a week, and remaining within French territory.
In a statement, Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau noted that the judge identified significant grounds to investigate the 39-year-old tech entrepreneur on several charges for which he was initially arrested four days earlier.
Durov, 39, was arrested at Le Bourget airport near Paris on Saturday by the French authorities, over alleged violations related to the messaging app. The arrest was made as a part of an investigation into crimes related to drug trafficking, child pornography and fraudulent transactions on Telegram, French prosecutors said on Monday.
Who is Pavel Durov?
Pavel Durov is a Russian multi-billionaire and the founder of Telegram and VKontakte. He is a tech mogul holding three citizenships; Russia, France and the United Arab Emirates, where Telegram is based. He is currently under investigation for 12 offences connected to alleged failures in controlling extremist content. Although his detention has been extended several times, it can only be prolonged for up to 96 hours.
His app, Telegram, was launched in 2013. Since then, it has seen explosive growth, amassing over 900 million users. Durov’s fortune is also driven by the success of Telegram. As of 25 August 2024, Durov is the 120th richest person in the world according to Forbes, with his current fortune standing at a whopping US$15.5 billion. Despite the wealth, the enigmatic figure lives an ascetic life.
The timing and circumstances of Durov’s arrest have sparked many questions, in particular why he flew to Paris knowing a warrant had been issued against him.
His Arrest: “No way political”
French President Emmanuel Macron took it to social media and said that Pavel Durov’s arrest “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,” he wrote in a rare public comment regarding the case.
In Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov remarked that the charges were very serious and thus needed “no less serious evidence”. He suggested that without such evidence, the case could be seen as an attempt to restrict freedom of expression and intimidate a prominent business leader. Officials from UAE said that it is “closely following the case”, requesting consular access for its citizen. People across the globe have extended their support to Durov. Among those, Tech tycoon Elon Musk, CEO of X, has publicly advocated for Durov under the hashtag #FreePavel.
Duval has “Nothing to hide”
Durov’s fate will be decided by the investing magistrate, after the initial 96-hour questioning period concludes. He can either face charges or remain in French police custody. Alternatively, Durov could be released under strict judicial control, which might include movement restrictions.
Telegram’s founder has been residing in Dubai recently, and he arrived in Paris France, from Baku Azerbaijan, with plans for a dinner in the French capital, according to a source close to the case. The source noted that Durov was accompanied by his bodyguard and his personal assistant.
Russian President Vladimir Putin was also in Baku for a state visit to Azerbaijan on August 18-19, although Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has denied any correspondence between the two. France’s L’Office Mineurs (OFMIN), the agency responsible for preventing violence against minors, issued an arrest warrant for Durov as part of a preliminary investigation into allegations of fraud, drug trafficking, cyberbullying, organized crime, and terrorism promotion.
Telegram said, “Durov has nothing to hide and travels frequently in Europe”. “Telegram abides by EU laws, including the Digital Services Act — its moderation is within industry standards,” the statement added.
Telegram has maintained its position as a “neutral” alternative to US-owned and controlled social media platforms, which have been criticised for their commercial exploitation of users’ personal data. The app has also played a critical role since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, being used actively by politicians and commentators on both sides of the war to promote free speech. However, critics allege Telegram of hosting a range of often illegal content, including explicit sexual imagery, disinformation, and drug-related services.
