The relationship between Moscow and Paris has hit a new low following the arrest of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov, according to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Tuesday, after the tech mogul's detention was extended until Wednesday.
Durov, who holds both Russian and French citizenship, was arrested near Paris over the weekend as part of an investigation into crimes related to child sex abuse images, drug trafficking, and fraudulent transactions on the platform, as stated by French prosecutors on Monday. It is still uncertain whether Durov was aware of the potential arrest in France. Durov's French attorney did not respond promptly to a request for comment.
Lavrov stated that Durov's arrest has severely strained Moscow-Paris relations, which have been deteriorating for months. French authorities accused Russia of attempting to destabilize France prior to the Paris Olympics due to its more aggressive stance on the Ukraine conflict - allegations Russia has refuted.
Durov's detention was extended by 48 hours on Monday evening, according to a spokesperson for the Paris prosecutor's office on Tuesday. After this, prosecutors must either charge or release him. If charges are filed, his potential flight risk will be a consideration in the judges' assessment of pre-trial detention, as per French law.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov informed reporters on Tuesday that Russia is prepared to offer Durov all necessary support due to his Russian citizenship, but acknowledged that his French citizenship complicates the situation. Durov also holds a UAE passport.
Peskov emphasized, "The charges are indeed very serious and require equally serious evidence. Otherwise, they represent a direct attempt to restrict freedom of communication."
Durov's arrest has ignited a debate about the boundaries of online free speech, with Elon Musk, owner of X, asserting that the right to express oneself in Europe is under threat. It also highlights a global trend of governments adopting a stricter stance on policing illegal activities on certain platforms.
Brazil's supreme court temporarily suspended Telegram nationwide in 2022 due to its failure to comply with judicial orders. With nearly 1 billion users, Telegram is particularly influential in Russia, Ukraine, and the former Soviet Union republics. It positions itself as a sanctuary for free speech but is also extensively used by far-right, anti-vax, and conspiracy theorist groups, as well as political dissidents.
The platform has become essential for battlefield communications in the Ukraine war, utilized by governments and soldiers on both sides to disseminate war-related news and propaganda. Without presenting evidence, Vyacheslav Volodin, chairman of Russia's State Duma, claimed earlier that the United States, via France, was attempting to gain control over Telegram.
"Telegram is one of the few, yet largest, internet platforms over which the United States has no influence," Volodin stated in a post. "Ahead of the US presidential election, it is crucial for (President Joe) Biden to bring Telegram under control."
The White House has not yet commented on Durov's arrest. French President Emmanuel Macron, known to be an avid user of the app, has asserted that the arrest was "in no way a political decision."
Russia has previously attempted, and failed, to block Telegram and has fined the company multiple times for not removing what it considers illegal content.
