Victor Ezeja
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has waded into the case of Telegram CEO, Pavel Durov, who was arrested and detained in France over the weekend.
In a statement on Tuesday, UAE Foreign Ministry said it is closely following the case, adding that it has sent a request to the French government to provide Durov “with all consular services urgently.”
Join our WhatsApp ChannelUAE further stressed that its top priority is taking care of citizens and preserving their interests in all ramifications.
“The UAE is closely following the case of Emirati citizen Pavel Durov, founder of the Telegram app, who was arrested by French authorities at Bourget Airport, and has submitted a request to the French government to provide him with all consular services urgently,” part of the statement read.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated in a statement that caring for citizens, preserving their interests, following up on their affairs, and providing them with all aspects of care is a top priority for the UAE.”
The Russian-born Durov, 39, who is also citizen of UAE where he currently resides, was detained on Saturday at Paris-Le Bourget Airport in France.
According to the French authorities, his detention was based on a judicial inquiry opened last month involving 12 alleged criminal violations involving his popular social media app, Telegram.
The tech entrepreneur is also is a citizen of France, Russia, and the Caribbean island nation of St Kitts and Nevis.
French prosecutor, Laure Beccuau, said in a statement on Monday that among the charges are claims that his platform assisted money launderers, fraudsters, drug dealers, and individuals disseminating video that exploits minors for sexual exploitation.
The prosecutor also said Durov is accused of withholding “information or documents” pertaining to the investigation.
Durov’s arrest has ignited a debate about freedom of speech and who has responsibility for prohibited content on the internet.
Durov’s detention has reportedly infuriated Russian government officials, with some describing it as politically motivated and evidence of the West’s double standard when it comes to freedom of speech.
However, French President, Emmanuel Macron, in social media post, countered the narrative, stating that “France is deeply committed to freedom of expression and communication, to innovation, and to the spirit of entrepreneurship. It will remain so.”
He said the arrest of Telegram CEO was as a result of ongoing judicial investigation, insisting that “It is in no way a political decision.” “It is up to the judges to rule on the matter,” he added.
While the matter raged, Telegram in a statement defended its operations, claiming that its content moderation was in line with “industry standards and constantly improving” and that it conforms to rules of the European Union.
According to the company, Durov had “nothing to hide and travels frequently in Europe.”
Durov’s detention order was extended by a French investigating magistrate on Sunday night, according to French media. However, the inquiry was still in its early stages, and no charges had been brought against him.
According to a statement from the prosecutor’s office in Paris, Durov’s order for police custody was extended for an additional 48 hours on Monday night.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
