Tensions have risen following the arrest of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov, which has drawn criticism from Russia and others who view it as an attack on free speech, given Telegram’s role in the Ukraine war.
However, French prosecutors clarified on Monday that Durov’s arrest in France is related to an investigation into crimes such as child pornography, drug trafficking, and fraudulent transactions on the platform.
French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed the arrest, stating it was not politically motivated and reaffirmed France’s commitment to lawful free speech. “The arrest of the Telegram president on French territory took place as part of an ongoing judicial investigation,” Macron wrote on X, emphasizing that judges, not politicians, would decide the case.
Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau further explained that Durov’s arrest is part of a probe initiated on July 8 by the cybercrime unit, involving suspected complicity in various crimes, including running a platform for illicit activities, refusal to cooperate with authorities, money laundering, and providing cryptographic services to criminals. Durov can be held until Wednesday.
This arrest occurs amid growing tensions between France and Russia, with France accusing Russia of attempts to destabilize it ahead of the Paris Olympics—a claim Russia denies. Durov, a 39-year-old billionaire with dual French and UAE citizenship, had previously stated that Telegram should remain neutral and not a “player in geopolitics.”
