Telegram Founder Durov Detained in France Amid Political Charges

Telegram founder Pavel Durov expressed his bewilderment over his detention in France, which occurred in August 2024. During an interview with Tucker Carlson, Durov revealed that the motives behind his arrest seemed to be politically driven, aimed at cracking down on alleged illicit activities on the messaging platform. Durov emphasized that Telegram is a large company that undergoes regular audits by a major accounting firm and complies with legal requirements in nearly 200 countries. He found it perplexing that he was detained and accused of wrongdoing, given the platform's extensive legal compliance efforts.

Durov was indicted on six charges by French prosecutors, including complicity in criminal activity, refusing to respond to authorities, money laundering, criminal association, providing crypto services without proper declaration, and involvement in the spread of illicit content. Prosecutors initially stated that he could face up to 10 years in prison. Durov, however, maintained that Telegram had done nothing wrong and that the authorities had not followed due process in seeking information from him or the company. He described his detainment as "unprecedented" and expressed confusion over the charges and the restrictions on his movements.

Durov's lawyers echoed his sentiments, describing his detainment as an extraordinary and unjustified action. Durov remains in France under "judicial control" due to the ongoing investigation against him and his company. Carlson criticized the manner in which Durov was detained, noting that the prosecutor's office typically operates discreetly and rarely issues public statements. Durov agreed, stating that his case was handled differently, with a clear intent to humiliate him. Carlson also questioned the silence of civil libertarians, while the TON Community reported that over 9 million Telegram users signed a letter calling for Durov's release.

Durov's interview with Carlson marked his first public appearance since his arrest. Shortly after the incident, he had stated that Telegram was prepared to exit countries that do not align with the platform's commitment to free speech. Telegram has since grown into one of the world's largest messaging platforms, reaching one billion monthly active users as of March. The platform's growth and Durov's stance on free speech have made it a significant player in the global messaging landscape, despite the ongoing legal challenges in France.