Macron Denies Inviting Durov to France, Defends Granting Him Citizenship

TLDR:

• French President Macron denies inviting Telegram CEO Pavel Durov to France
• Durov was arrested and charged with multiple offenses related to Telegram’s operations
• Macron defends granting French citizenship to Durov in 2021
• Durov holds multiple citizenships, including French, UAE, and Russian
• The case has sparked debate about online freedom and tech regulation

French authorities arrested Telegram CEO Pavel Durov on August 26, 2024, sparking a firestorm of controversy and raising questions about the tech entrepreneur’s connections to various countries.

Durov, who was granted French citizenship in 2021, faces six charges related to Telegram’s operations, including refusal to cooperate with law enforcement and complicity in managing an online platform “to enable an illegal transaction in an organized group.”

The arrest occurred at Le Bourget airport near Paris, with Durov reportedly telling police he was in the country to have dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron.

However, Macron strongly denied inviting Durov or having any knowledge of his visit to France. Speaking at a press conference during a diplomatic visit to Serbia, Macron stated, “As far as I’m concerned, I was absolutely unaware of Mr. Durov’s coming to France.”

Macron defended the decision to grant Durov French citizenship in 2021, describing it as part of a strategy to attract talented individuals who contribute to France’s influence and economic prosperity.

The French president explained, “It’s part of a strategy to allow women and men, whether artists, athletes or entrepreneurs, when they make the effort to learn the French language and that they develop wealth, innovation … to be given French nationality.”

The case has brought attention to Durov’s multiple citizenships. In addition to his French nationality, Durov holds citizenship in the United Arab Emirates, where Telegram is headquartered, as well as in Russia, where he was born.

He also obtained citizenship in the Caribbean nation of Saint Kitts and Nevis through an investment program.

Durov’s connections to Russia have come under scrutiny. While he portrays himself as an opponent of the Kremlin, having left Russia in 2014 after tensions with authorities, reports suggest he maintained ties with the country. Russian state media reported that Moscow had requested consular access to Durov following his arrest, but he declined the offer.

The charges against Durov stem from Telegram’s alleged reluctance to cooperate in a child abuse case. French prosecutors accuse him of complicity in criminal activities on the platform, including drug trafficking and the distribution of child sex abuse material.

Durov’s lawyer, David-Olivier Kaminski, has called the charges “totally absurd,” arguing that it’s unreasonable to implicate the owner of a social network in crimes that don’t directly concern him.

The arrest has reignited debates about freedom of speech, privacy, and online content moderation. Prominent figures in the tech industry, including X owner Elon Musk and ProtonMail founder Andy Yen, have condemned the French authorities’ actions, viewing them as a threat to freedom of expression.

Telegram, launched in 2013, has become a popular messaging platform with nearly one billion users. It is widely used by political dissidents, military personnel, and various groups seeking secure communication. The platform’s reluctance to cooperate with authorities has made it a target for governments concerned about its potential misuse.

Durov was released on a €5 million bail on August 30, 2024, but must remain in France and check in with law enforcement weekly. The case continues to develop, with international observers closely watching its implications for tech regulation and online freedoms.