Russia warns France on political maneuvering in Telegram CEO case

The Russian government has cautioned France against escalating the legal proceedings against Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, into what it terms "political persecution."

Durov, a Russian-born French citizen, was detained in Paris for allegedly failing to control illegal content on the Telegram messaging platform.

Following his arrest at Le Bourget airport last weekend, Durov was held for four days before being released on a €5 million ($5.53 million) bail.

Under his release conditions, Durov is required to remain in France and report to a police station twice a week.

The Kremlin has expressed concern, suggesting the case could be politically motivated given the ongoing crackdown on political dissent in France.

Dmitry Peskov, a Kremlin spokesperson, emphasised: "The main thing is for what is happening in France not to run into political persecution.”

Russian officials have voiced strong support for Durov, acknowledging his Russian citizenship and expressing readiness to provide assistance.

Peskov stated: "Of course, we consider him a Russian citizen and as much as possible we will be ready to provide assistance … We will be watching what happens next."

Speculation has grown around the circumstances of Durov’s arrest, with reports indicating he was scheduled to dine with French President Emmanuel Macron around the time of his detention.

Durov's lawyers argue that the charges against him lack substance and are politically motivated, particularly given earlier discussions with Macron about relocating Telegram's headquarters to Paris.

This situation has added a layer of complexity to the already tense relations between Russia and France, as the Russian government closely monitors how the legal case unfolds.

The arrest and subsequent legal proceedings highlight the friction between the principles of digital freedom and governmental control, with Durov’s case potentially serving as a flashpoint in broader geopolitical tensions.