Telegram Founder Durov Denied Travel for Oslo Forum Speech

Telegram co-founder Pavel Durov was scheduled to attend the Oslo Freedom Forum in Norway, but a French court has denied his request to leave the country. The Human Rights Foundation (HRF), which organizes the event, announced that Durov will deliver his keynote speech through an online livestream instead. This decision comes after Durov publicly accused Nicolas Lerner, the head of the French intelligence agency, of pressuring him to block conservative political content ahead of the Romanian presidential election. Durov refused to comply, stating that such actions undermine democracy and that Telegram will not censor political speech in any market.

Durov was arrested by French authorities in August 2024 over alleged criminal activity facilitated via Telegram. Although he is not personally accused of any crimes, prosecutors claim he holds legal responsibility for how others use the platform. He has since been released on bail pending the outcome of the case. The court’s decision to block his travel is surprising, given that Durov was previously allowed to leave France. In addition to his keynote address, he had planned to meet with human rights defenders from authoritarian regimes to explore how Telegram could better support their work.

Durov's accusations against Lerner have sparked controversy. Durov posted on X, accusing Lerner of pressuring him to silence conservative voices on Telegram ahead of Romania’s elections. Durov claimed Lerner visited Romania just two days before the vote and linked the visit to comments made by Valérie Hayer, a key French political figure, promising to ensure the election of a pro-European Romanian president. Romania’s nationalist opposition party, the Alliance for the Union of Romanians, has called on parliamentary commissions to investigate the motives behind Nicolas Lerner’s visit.

HRF founder and CEO Thor Halvorssen criticized the court's decision, stating that it is "a setback for freedom" and that technologies like Telegram are essential tools for those resisting tyranny. The denial of Durov's travel request highlights the ongoing tensions between free speech advocates and governments seeking to control online communication platforms. Durov's stance on not censoring political speech, even under pressure, underscores the platform's commitment to free expression, but it also puts him at odds with authorities who view such content as a threat to national security or political stability.