Macron issues statement on Telegram CEO: He was detained in France

French President Emmanuel Macron has issued a statement regarding the detention of 39-year-old Russian-born billionaire Pavel Durov, the founder and owner of the world-renowned messaging app Telegram, in France last Saturday.

Expressing that he had seen false posts about France following Durov's detention, Macron stated, “France is deeply committed to freedom of expression and communication, innovation, and the spirit of entrepreneurship.

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,” he said.

"THIS IS IN NO WAY A POLITICAL DECISION"

Emphasizing that the enforcement of laws is up to the judiciary in complete independence, Macron said, “The detention of the Telegram CEO on French soil took place as part of an ongoing judicial investigation. This is in no way a political decision. It is up to the judges to decide on this matter.”

DETAINED AT THE AIRPORT

An unnamed police spokesperson said that Durov was being investigated by national cybercrime and fraud offices on the grounds that he did not cooperate regarding cyber and financial crimes committed via Telegram and social media.

It was alleged that Durov, who was detained shortly after landing at Le Bourget Airport near the capital Paris on a private jet from Azerbaijan, was held as part of a preliminary investigation into claims that the platform allowed numerous crimes to be committed due to a lack of moderation on Telegram and a failure to cooperate with the police.

RUSSIA'S ZUCKERBERG

The 39-year-old billionaire Durov, often referred to as “Russia's Mark Zuckerberg,” holds dual citizenship in France and the United Arab Emirates. Durov, whose net worth is estimated by Forbes at 15.5 billion dollars, said last April that some governments had tried to pressure him, but that the application should remain a neutral platform rather than a “geopolitical player.”

News Source: İHA