Telegram CEO speaks out again following arrest in France: criticism of French authorities’ actions.
Through a Telegram post on September 5, Pavel Durov spoke out to denounce the reasons behind his recent arrest, and also to assert that the company is prepared to leave markets that are incompatible with the platform’s principles.
Durov expressed surprise at his arrest, emphasizing the presence of a legal representative of Telegram within the European Union. As a French citizen, Durov stated that the authorities could have easily contacted him without involving the police, citing his frequent interactions with the French consulate in Dubai, where Durov resides.
Durov stated:
“Sometimes we can’t agree with a country’s regulator on the right balance between privacy and security. In those cases, we are ready to leave that country. We’ve done it many times.”
“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 personally accuse him instead of taking action against the company.
On August 25, Durov was arrested and detained for four days by French authorities for allowing unchecked criminal activities on Telegram. Although Durov claims the charges are baseless, he remains in France awaiting trial.
