Macron: Telegram CEO’s arrest not a political decision

French President Emmanuel Macron says Pavel Durov’s arrest is part of an ongoing judicial investigation and has no political motive.

Durov, chief executive officer (CEO) of Telegram, the messaging platform, was arrested by French police at the Le Bourget airport in Paris after his private jet arrived from Azerbaijan.

Reports say the 39-year-old Russian-born businessman could face multiple charges bordering on alleged terrorism, money laundering, drug trafficking, and child abuse content relating to the popular messaging app.

Macron’s statement is the first official confirmation of Durov’s arrest. The late confirmation of Durov’s arrest by French authorities has generated speculation.

Elon Musk, the owner of X, who has also faced criticism over moderation on his platform, accused French authorities of infringing on Durov’s rights and posted hashtags of #freepavel.

“I have seen false information regarding France following the arrest of Pavel Durov,” Macron said.

“France is deeply committed to freedom of expression and communication, to innovation, and to the spirit of entrepreneurship. It will remain so.

“In a state governed by the rule of law, freedoms are upheld within a legal framework, both on social media and in real life, to protect citizens and respect their fundamental rights. It is up to the judiciary, in full independence, to enforce the law.

“The arrest of the president of Telegram on French soil 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.”

TELEGRAM AMID RUSSIA-UKRAINE CRISIS

Telegram allows groups of up to 200,000 members, which critics have argued makes it easier for misinformation and disinformation to spread and for users to share conspiracist, neo-Nazi, paedophilic, or terror-related content.

The app, with close to one billion users, is particularly influential in Russia, Ukraine, and the republics of the former Soviet Union.

Several countries in Europe, including France, have raised concerns about the app’s security and data privacy.

The Telegram CEO left Russia in 2014 after he refused to comply with demands to shut down opposition communities on his VK social media platform, which he has sold.

Durov obtained a French passport in 2021 through a special procedure for wealthy foreigners, exempting them from the usual legal requirements.

He also holds a United Arab Emirates (UAE) passport and had lived in Berlin, Singapore, and San Francisco before settling in Dubai after he fled Russia.

Several Russian bloggers have called for protests outside French embassies worldwide following his arrest.

Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia’s permanent representative to the United Nations (UN) in Vienna, accused France of acting as a “totalitarian” society.

The development also comes amid mounting tension between France and Russia.

French authorities alleged that Russia tried to destabilise the Olympics hosted by France early this month — a claim Moscow has denied.