Moscow, August 25, 2024, The Europe Today: The Deputy Speaker of the Russian State Duma, Vladislav Davankov, has called for Russia to demand the immediate release of Pavel Durov, the founder of the messaging app Telegram, who was reportedly detained in France. Durov, a dual Russian-French national, was arrested on Saturday at Paris-Le Bourget airport, according to French media reports.
The French authorities allegedly detained Durov due to concerns that Telegram’s lax moderation rules and robust encryption technology have facilitated criminal activities on the platform.
In a statement posted on Telegram early Sunday, Davankov defended Durov’s contributions to digital innovation, particularly in Russia and globally. “Hardly anyone else has done more for the development of digital services in Russia and the world,” Davankov wrote. He emphasized the urgency of securing Durov’s release and revealed that he had urged Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to appeal to the French authorities on Durov’s behalf.
Davankov suggested that Durov’s arrest could be politically motivated, potentially as a means to access the personal information of Telegram users. “We cannot allow this,” he asserted. He further proposed that if France refuses to release Durov, efforts should be made to transport him to the UAE or Russia, provided Durov agrees.
The Deputy Speaker dismissed the allegations against Durov, pointing out that illicit activities occur on all messaging platforms. “But nobody arrests or jails their owners. And it shouldn’t happen this time,” Davankov argued.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova confirmed on Sunday that the Russian Embassy in Paris is actively working on a response to the situation.
Pavel Durov, born in St. Petersburg, gained prominence in 2006 when he founded VK, often referred to as “Russia’s Facebook.” In 2013, he launched Telegram, which now boasts more than 950 million monthly active users. Durov left Russia in the mid-2010s and has primarily resided in the UAE. He acquired French citizenship in 2021.
The situation has sparked significant attention in Russia, with many viewing Durov as a pivotal figure in the tech industry whose detention could have broader implications for digital privacy and the future of encrypted communications.
4o
