Paris (APP) French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday that the arrest in France CEO of the popular messaging app TelegramPavel Durov, was not a political initiative but part of an independent investigation.
Durov was detained on Saturday at Le Bourget airport in a judicial inquiry that began last month into 12 alleged criminal violations, the Paris prosecutor's office said Monday.
Suspected violations include the sale of child sexual exploitation material and drug trafficking, fraud, encouraging organized crime transactions and sharing information or documents with investigators when required by law, it said in a statement. Includes refusal to share.
In France's first public comment on the arrest, Macron posted on social media platform X that his country was “deeply committed” to freedom of expression but that “freedoms are maintained within the legal framework, social Both in the media and in real life, to protect citizens and their fundamental rights.
Condemning what he called disinformation, Macron said the arrest was in no way a political decision. It is up to the judges to decide on the matter.
The prosecutor's office said Durov's detention was extended until Monday night and could be extended until Wednesday evening before authorities release him or charge him.
Durov is a citizen of Russia, France, the United Arab Emirates and the Caribbean island state of Saint Kitts and Nevis.
Russian government officials have expressed outrage at his detention, with some calling it politically motivated and evidence of the West's double standards on freedom of expression. The outcry has raised eyebrows among Kremlin critics: In 2018, Russian authorities themselves tried to block Telegram but failed, lifting the ban in 2020.
Telegram, which says it has nearly a billion users worldwide, was founded by Durov and his brother after it itself faced pressure from Russian authorities.
In 2013, he sold his stake in VKontakte, a popular Russian social networking site that he started in 2006.
The company came under pressure after the Russian government crackdown Mass pro-democracy protests which rocked Moscow in late 2011 and 2012.
Durov said authorities demanded that the site shut down online communities of Russian opposition activists, and that it later hand over personal data of users who took part in the 2013 popular uprising in Ukraine, which eventually led to the Kremlin. The pro-president was deposed.
Durov said in a recent interview that he had refused these demands and left the country.
The protests forced Russian authorities. Click on the digital spaceand Telegram and its pro-privacy statements offered Russians an easy way to deliver and share news.
Telegram is also a popular news source in Ukraine, where both media outlets and officials use it to share information about the war, and to provide missile and air strike warnings.
In a statement posted on its platform after its arrest, Telegram said it complies with EU laws, and that its moderation is “within industry standards and continuously improving.”
“It is absurd to claim that the platform or its owner is responsible for the misuse of the platform,” Telegram's post said. “About one billion users worldwide use Telegram as a means of communication and as a source of important information. We look forward to an immediate resolution to this situation. Telegram is with you all.
French media reported on Monday that a French investigating judge extended Durov's detention order on Sunday night. Under French law, Durov can be detained for questioning for up to four days. After that, the judges have to decide whether to indict him or release him.
The Russian embassy in Paris said consular officials were denied access to Durov because French authorities consider his French citizenship to be their primary citizenship. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday, “We still don't know what Duro is actually being charged with. … Let's wait until the charges are announced — if they are announced.” goes.”
Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of X who in the past called himself “ Free speech absoluteposted “#freePavel” in support of Durov after his arrest.
Western governments have often criticized Telegram for its lack of content moderation, which experts say could be used to facilitate the sharing of content linked to money laundering, drug trafficking and the sexual exploitation of minors. Opens the platform.
In 2022, Germany issued fines. A $5 million fine against Telegram's operators for failing to establish a legal method to report illegal content or to name an entity in Germany to receive official communications. Both are required under German laws regulating major online platforms.
Last year, Brazil Temporarily suspended Telegram for failure to hand over data on neo-Nazi activity to police inquiry into school shootings in November.
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Contributed by Barbara Surak in Nice, France and Daria Litvinova in Tallinn, Estonia.