The founder of the Telegram messenger, Pavel Durov, said during questioning that he was in contact with the French General Directorate of Internal Security (DGSI), the newspaper Liberation reported, citing a source.
According to Durov, he met with representatives of the DGSI in Dubai. It is not known when exactly this happened.
During the meeting, Durov, according to the publication, made it clear that “it would be inappropriate for him to disclose information that constitutes a military secret.” The Telegram founder also allegedly claimed that he had created an official communication channel with the DGSI “with a hotline and a special email address” to fight terrorism. Durov said that the exchange of information helped prevent several terrorist attacks.
After his arrest in Paris, Pavel Durov expressed his willingness to cooperate and handed over his mobile phone and the access code to law enforcement officers, the newspaper writes.
As for Durov’s French citizenship, the decision to grant it to the founder of Telegram, according to Libération, was taken by the French president. Emmanuel Macron.
as it was transmitted EADailyTelegram co-founder Pavel Durov has been placed under judicial supervision in France, BFMTV reported.
According to the Paris prosecutor’s office, Durov is prohibited from leaving the country. He was released on bail of 5 million euros.
Pavel Durov, in particular, is charged with failing to cooperate with authorities, conspiracy to operate an online platform for conducting illegal transactions as part of an organized group, as well as complicity in a range of crimes, including the distribution of child pornography, drug trafficking and organized fraud.
The Russian Embassy in France has demanded that the French authorities ensure that the rights of the detained co-founder of the Telegram messenger Pavel Durov are respected, but Paris is avoiding any interaction on this issue, according to the press service of the diplomatic mission.
“After the news of Pavel Durov’s arrest appeared in the media, we immediately asked the French authorities to clarify the reasons and demanded that his rights be protected and that he be granted consular access. To this day, the French side continues to avoid interaction on this issue,” the embassy said.
Durov flew to Paris from Baku, accompanied by his assistant and bodyguard, and planned to spend at least one night in the French capital, where he had a table reserved in one of the restaurants, according to Le Figaro newspaper. Durov’s Embraer Legacy 600 plane landed at the French airport at 7:30 p.m. local time on August 24. Pavel was arrested a few minutes later.
According to the newspaper, one of the investigators was surprised that Durov, knowing that he was wanted in France, decided to come to Paris. Another source close to the matter suggested that Durov’s decision was due to a “sense of impunity.”
According to French journalists, Durov is considered to be “involved in drug trafficking, crimes against children, cybercrime and fraud” due to Telegram’s “lack of moderation and cooperation with law enforcement officials.”
It is also alleged that Durov knew that he could be arrested in France. That is why I avoided travelling to Europe for a long time.
Telegram founder Pavel Durov was put on the wanted list literally minutes before landing in Paris and an arrest warrant was issued, BFMTV claims.
Americans – famous journalist Tucker CarlsonBillionaire, owner of the social network X Elon Musk and entrepreneur David Sachs — supported Telegram founder Pavel Durov, who was arrested in Paris.
The arrest of Telegram founder Pavel Durov in France is an attack on the human right to freedom of expression, a former US intelligence officer has said. Edward Snowden.
