Telegram chief’s ‘politically motivated’ arrest sparks worldwide reactions

The arrest of Telegram chief executive Pavel Durov in France has set off reactions among politicians and social media activists across the world, with calls growing for the release of the 39-year-old Franco-Russian billionaire.

Durov was detained at Le Bourget Airport near the French capital of Paris on Saturday evening and is reported to appear in court for alleged offenses related to his popular messaging application.

Local broadcaster LCI said the French authorities had issued an arrest warrant for the Russian-born tech entrepreneur as part of a preliminary investigation into alleged offenses, including fraud, drug trafficking, cyber-bullying, organized crime, and promotion of terrorism.

Durov, who obtained a French passport in 2021, is also a citizen of the UAE and a native Russian.

‘Politically motivated’ arrest

Reacting to Durov’s arrest, Deputy Speaker of the Russian State Duma Vladislav Davankov said Moscow must demand the immediate release of the Telegram founder.

Writing on Telegram in the early hours of Sunday, Davankov defended Durov’s record and said, “Hardly anyone else has done more for the development of digital services in Russia and the world.”

“We need to get him out of there. I have urged Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to appeal to the French authorities to release Pavel Durov from custody,” the politician added.

“His arrest could be politically motivated and used to gain access to the personal information of Telegram users. We cannot allow this.”

Should Paris refuse to release Durov, “everything must be done to transport him to the UAE or Russia – if he agrees, of course,” Davankov said.

The politician dismissed the allegations against the Telegram chief executive, saying illicit activity can be found on all messaging platforms “but nobody arrests or jails their owners.”

Russian Embassy responds

Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the Russian Embassy in Paris was working on a response to the situation with Durov.

Zakharova said that Durov’s detention raises a question of whether international organizations will demand his release or will “swallow their tongues.”

Zakharova pointed out that in 2018, a group of 26 NGOs, including Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, Freedom House, Reporters Without Borders, and others, condemned the Russian court’s ruling to block Telegram.

“Do you think they will call on Paris this time and demand Durov’s release or will they swallow their tongues?” the diplomat said on her Telegram channel.

“There were legislative complaints to Telegram [in 2018], which many countries had due to the technical parameters of its encryption system,” she said, stressing that Durov remained free and continued to develop his messenger during that period.

The diplomat emphasized that the Russian Embassy has “immediately” started working on his detention “as it is supposed to in a case when information comes that the receiving side has detained a Russian citizen.”

‘A living warning’

American journalist and political commentator Tucker Carlson said the arrest of Durov in France is a warning to platforms that stand up to censorship.

Carlson also censured the West for its so-called advocacy of freedom of speech.

“Pavel Durov left Russia when the government tried to control his social media company, Telegram,” Carlson asserted. “But in the end, it wasn’t Putin who arrested him for allowing the public to exercise free speech. It was a Western country, a Biden administration ally and enthusiastic NATO member that locked him away.”

Durov’s arrest is “a living warning to any platform owner who refuses to censor the truth at the behest of governments and intel agencies,” he added.

“Darkness is descending fast on the formerly free world,” he warned.

Carlson recorded a rare interview with Durov in April, in which the Telegram owner spoke about his disagreements with the Russian government, as well as the pressure he faced in the US.

Durov said that the administration of US President Joe Biden had asked him to set up surveillance “backdoor” on the messenger, which he had refused.

American billionaire and X owner Elon Musk also condemned Durov’s arrest, saying, “It’s 2030 in Europe and you’re being executed for liking a meme.”

‘Who will be next?’

According to The Cradle, within the past two weeks, the online news magazine was banned by Meta (Facebook, Instagram), the Resistance News Network (RNN)’s Telegram channel was banned in the EU, and Durov was arrested.

Also, it added, Scott Ritter’s home was raided by the FBI over “unregistered foreign agent” allegations, and journalist Richard Medhurst was arrested at Heathrow Airport under the UK Terrorism Act

“Who/what will be next?” it said.

With more than 900 million active users, Telegram allows groups of up to 200,000 members, which has led to accusations that it makes it easier for false information to spread virally, as well as for users to disseminate neo-Nazi, paedophilic, conspiratorial, and terrorist content.

French broadcaster TF1 reported that Durov is going to appear before a judge on Sunday and could be facing up to 20 years in prison.

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