Russian Officials Upset Over Pavel Durov’s Arrest in Paris

Russian officials are upset over the arrest of Pavel Durov, Telegram’s CEO, at Paris’s Le Bourget airport.

The Russian Embassy in France has criticized French authorities for not providing information about the arrest and denying consular access. They are working with Durov’s lawyer but have received little cooperation.

Some Russian officials see the arrest as a deliberate act against Russia. There is debate over Durov’s citizenship, with conflicting reports about whether he holds French and Russian or French and UAE citizenship.

French officials are expected to address the arrest soon. Durov may face charges related to Telegram’s content moderation, including money laundering and inappropriate material, though no prison sentence details have been confirmed.

Telegram has defended Durov, asserting that the platform follows EU laws and that Durov frequently travels in Europe without issues.

In response to the arrest, notable figures in the crypto world, such as Elon Musk and Vitalik Buterin, have shown their support for Durov.