Telegram Co-Founder Blames French Police for His Arrest

Telegram co-founder Pavel Durov has described his arrest, which occurred a year ago, as a mistake made by the French police. “The fact is that I was arrested due to an error by the French police. Until August 2024, they ignored French and EU laws and did not send their inquiries to Telegram through the necessary legal procedures,” he wrote.

Durov emphasized that a year later, the investigation against him has failed to prove any wrongdoing on his or Telegram's part. “Our moderation practices meet industry standards, and Telegram has always responded to all legally binding inquiries from France,” he clarified.

According to Durov, the only outcome of his arrest has been damage to France's reputation as a free country. He also mentioned that a year after his arrest, he is forced to return to France every 14 days, while the date for his appeal has yet to be set.