AFP: Durov's detention in France was extended

A court in France extended the detention of the founder of the Telegram messenger Pavel Durov for 48 hours. This was reported by AFP, citing a source close to the investigation.

The agency notes that the detention can last a maximum of 96 hours, after which the judge will have to either release him or bring charges against Durov. In especially severe cases (drug trafficking, terrorism), detention can be extended to 120 or 144 hours.

Bloomberg also wrote that the founder of Telegram could have his arrest extended. It is noted that according to French laws, the period of detention can be increased only once.

French authorities have not given any official comments on Durov's case. Only the Telegram team released their comment. It says that the company's CEO has nothing to hide, that he often travels around Europe, and Telegram complies with EU laws, including the law on digital services.

“It is absurd to claim that the platform or its owner is responsible for the abuse of that platform,” the Sunday commentary emphasized. It also states that nearly a billion users around the world use Telegram as a means of communication and a source of important information.

On the evening of August 24, French media reported that Telegram founder Pavel Durov was detained in France, at Le Bourget airport. He was interrogated and taken into custody. It was noted that the businessman arrived on a private plane from Azerbaijan. So far, French authorities have not made any official comments on the case.

The Russian state news agency TASS reported on the afternoon of August 25 that the Paris prosecutor's office, to which Durov's case was transferred, plans to make a statement to the press on Monday, August 26. TASS referred to information from the prosecutor's office itself.

France-Presse, citing sources, reported that Pavel Durov will appear in court in the near future. The agency noted that the arrest warrant was issued by the French Office for Combating Crimes Against Minors (OFMIN) as part of a preliminary investigation into alleged offenses including fraud, drug trafficking, cyber threats, organized crime and terrorist propaganda. Durov is accused of failing to take measures to stop the criminal use of his platform. “Enough with the impunity of Telegram,” France-Presse quoted one of the investigators as saying he was surprised that the entrepreneur flew to Paris knowing that he was wanted.

TF1 sources also reported that French law enforcement agencies suspect Durov that he, as the creator of the messenger, promotes drug trafficking, crimes against children and fraud. According to the TV channel, the arrest warrant previously issued against Durov came into effect as soon as the entrepreneur arrived on French territory.

A number of Russian officials previously called on the French authorities to release Durov, and accused Paris of double standards and persecution of a Russian citizen. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the circumstances of the case are not yet known, so he cannot comment on it. At the same time, Peskov said that during his recent visit to Azerbaijan, Russian President Vladimir Putin did not meet with Durov, who was also in Baku at that time. A number of commentators have previously put forward theories that Durov’s detention in France could allegedly be somehow connected with his hypothetical meeting with Putin.

• Currently, Pavel Durov is in a migration prison at Le Bourget airport.
• Durov, a native of Russia, received French citizenship in 2021. Recently, he lived mainly in the United Arab Emirates, where the Telegram office is located. The entrepreneur left Russia about 10 years ago.