News about the detention of Telegram founder Pavel Durov in France prompted a rapid response from the Russian Embassy, which said it was taking all necessary steps to understand the case. The information was first circulated by TASS and later echoed by the embassy, emphasizing that Durov’s legal team had not raised any objections with the Russian delegation regarding reports of his detention.
According to the embassy, their engagement with the matter began before a public appeal from Deputy Speaker of the State Duma Vladislav Davankov to the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, urging consideration of Durov’s situation. The embassy noted the ongoing diplomatic work and stressed that the case was being handled through proper channels, with a focus on ensuring due process and accurate information on the ground.
Pavel Durov was reported to have been detained on August 24 in Paris, around 20:00 local time (21:00 Moscow time). French investigators allegedly detained a Russian national who had just exited a private jet at Le Bourget Airport. Durov was said to be accompanied by a bodyguard and another individual as he arrived in France from Azerbaijan. The report drew attention to the location and timing, and French authorities cited concerns related to encrypted messaging services as a central element of the case against Telegram and Durov.
Authorities in France reportedly linked the allegations to charges involving encrypted communications, with references to potential offenses such as terrorism, drug trafficking, fraud, and money laundering as cited by some French media outlets. Observers noted that if these accusations were upheld, the case could carry a severe sentence, with speculative projections of possible prison terms reaching two decades. The evolving narrative prompted commentary from various observers about the state of media freedom and the balance between security concerns and civil liberties in Europe.
In the wake of the incident, public figures and commentators, including Senator Tsekov, suggested that Durov’s detention might reflect broader tensions around freedom of expression in Europe. The remarks contributed to a broader debate about how multilingual, global platforms like Telegram are governed under different national legal frameworks, and how states respond when high-profile tech founders become subjects of legal scrutiny while traveling internationally. The embassy, for its part, reiterated its commitment to transparency and legal due process, noting that discussions would continue as more facts emerged and official channels remained in operation. Source: TASS