Telegram founder Pavel Durov has finally spoken out for the first time since his arrest in France in August. The tech entrepreneur expressed surprise at being detained, citing the company’s legal representative in France who handles all regulatory matters.
Durov, a French citizen, claimed that French authorities had multiple avenues to contact him without resorting to law enforcement, asserting that he was a frequent visitor to the French Consulate in Dubai.
In a statement on his Telegram channel, Durov emphasized the company’s commitment to free speech and its willingness to leave jurisdictions that are hostile to its principles. He stated, “We are prepared to leave markets that aren’t compatible with our principles because we are not doing this for money. We are driven by the intention to bring good and defend the basic rights of people, particularly in places where these rights are violated.”
Durov also criticized France’s decision to charge him personally rather than targeting the company.
French President Emmanuel Macron denied that the arrest was politically motivated, but the statement did little to quell international outrage. Critics accused French authorities of suppressing free speech, leading to calls for Durov’s release from the TON Society and industry executives.
Rumble founder and CEO Chris Pavlovski, alarmed by the arrest, fled Europe and warned others that France was no longer a safe haven for tech founders who prioritize free speech. Once safely out of Europe, Pavlovski stated, “France has threatened Rumble, and now they have crossed a red line by arresting Telegram’s CEO, Pavel Durov, reportedly for not censoring speech.”
Pavlovski vowed that Rumble would use “all available means” to combat censorship efforts and protect the universal human right to freedom of speech. The arrest of Durov has ignited a global debate about the limits of government control over online platforms and the importance of free expression.
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