UAE Monitors Arrest of Telegram CEO Durov as French Detention Sparks Global Outrage

The United Arab Emirates said Monday it is closely monitoring developments of Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov following his arrest by French authorities on Saturday.

The UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it has “submitted a request to the French government to urgently provide him with all consular services,” according to a statement.

“Caring for citizens, preserving their interests, and providing them with all necessary support are top priorities for the UAE,” the ministry said.

Durov, a Russian-born entrepreneur and Emirati citizen was detained on Saturday at Paris-Le Bourget Airport as part of a judicial investigation initiated last month.

The inquiry into Durov involves 12 alleged criminal violations connected to the messaging app Telegram, the Paris prosecutor’s office revealed Monday.

Those charges include complicity in facilitating illegal transactions, refusal to cooperate with law enforcement, involvement in child pornography and narcotics distribution, organized fraud, money laundering, and the unlawful provision of cryptographic tools.

Durov, who holds citizenship in France, Russia, the UAE, and St. Kitts and Nevis, was arrested by French authorities while stepping off his private jet outside of Paris on Saturday evening.

The move outraged the crypto community and privacy advocates, including Edward Snowden, the former NSA contractor who was convicted of leaking classified information.

In response to the backlash, French President Emmanuel Macron said Monday that Durov’s detainment was not politically motivated and that his country was “deeply committed to freedom of expression and communication.”

Earlier in the week, Telegram responded to the arrest, claiming that its CEO had “nothing to hide” and that it was “absurd to claim that a platform or its owner are responsible for abuse of that platform.”

A French investigative judge extended Durov’s detention on Sunday night, but by Monday afternoon, no charges had been brought.

Durov can be detained for questioning for up to four days under French law, after which judges must decide whether to charge or let him go.

Telegram’s user base surpassed 950 million in July, according to Durov, driven by a surge in users linked to the popularity of crypto-based games available through integrated “mini-apps” on the platform.

Hamster Kombat, the most popular among them, has reportedly attracted over 300 million players in recent months, ahead of its upcoming token launch and airdrop.