Telegram CEO Arrest, Political Case if Charges Not Proven

Speaker of the House Claims "The US Behind the Scenes Ahead of the Presidential Election"

Russia stated that if France fails to present concrete evidence for the charges against Pavel Durov, the CEO of Telegram, his arrest will be considered a political case.

According to Russian state media, Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesperson, said at a briefing on the 27th (local time), "If evidence proving the charges against Durov is not presented, it will be seen as a direct attempt to restrict freedom of communication or a direct threat against him," adding, "It will be exactly the type of decision that President Macron denied yesterday."

The previous day, French President Emmanuel Macron had rebutted criticism that Durov's arrest was a political decision, stating, "It is part of an investigation and by no means a political decision."

Durov, the Telegram founder and CEO originally from Russia, was arrested by French authorities on the 24th. He is accused of allowing Telegram to be used for various crimes such as money laundering, child pornography, and drug trafficking by exploiting anonymity. Telegram, known for its strong security enabling secret conversations, has been used as a communication tool by pro-democracy movements resisting government oppression in Russia, Iran, the Middle East, and Hong Kong. However, it has recently been criticized as a breeding ground for extremist content and the spread of fake news.

Vyacheslav Volodin, Chairman of the Russian State Duma, claims that the United States is behind this arrest. In a post on Telegram, he said, "Telegram is one of the largest internet platforms where the US cannot exert influence," and added, "For US President Joe Biden, ahead of the US presidential election, controlling Telegram is important."

Spokesperson Peskov emphasized, "We hope that Durov has all the capabilities necessary for his legal defense," and "Of course, considering that he is a Russian citizen, we are ready to provide all necessary help and support."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.