Telegram Director Arrested for 'Failure to Cooperate' on Cyber and Financial Crimes

The President of France stated that the arrest of the Telegram director is not related to political issues; the Paris prosecutor also announced that Pavel Durov's arrest is linked to investigations into collusion with a cybercriminal. Emmanuel Macron emphasized on Monday, September 5, that in cyberspace, as in real life, 'freedoms are exercised within the framework of the law' to protect citizens. He also condemned the dissemination of 'false information' regarding Mr. Durov's arrest. Pavel Durov, 39, was arrested shortly after landing at Le Bourget Airport in the suburbs of Paris on Saturday evening. Meanwhile, Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau stated on Monday evening that Durov's arrest is part of an investigation into collusion with a cybercriminal. According to Ms. Beccuau, the arrest of the Telegram director is based on suspicions of collusion with a detained suspect, and investigations initiated by the Paris Cyber Crime Unit last month. The Paris prosecutor's statement added that this investigation is related to suspicions of involvement in various crimes 'including the establishment of an online platform that facilitates illegal transactions, child pornography, drug trafficking, fraud, as well as failure to provide information to authorities, money laundering, and providing encryption services to criminals.' According to this report, Mr. Durov's detention could last until Wednesday. Under French law, the maximum detention period for a suspect during the investigation phase is 96 hours, after which a judge will decide on the suspect's release or continued detention based on the charges. The Telegram messaging network responded on Monday to the arrest of its director, stating that Pavel Durov has made 'frequent trips' to Europe and 'has nothing to hide.' Telegram also called the claim of the director's responsibility for the content published by its users 'ridiculous' and added that it is awaiting a swift resolution of the matter. The arrest of the Russian Telegram director has sparked reactions, with Reuters reporting that several people in Moscow held signs protesting the arrest near the French embassy. The Russian embassy in Paris stated that it has not yet received a response from French authorities regarding its request for consular access to Pavel Durov and accused the French government of 'non-cooperation.' Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, also stated that since Mr. Durov also holds French citizenship, France considers it his primary citizenship.