According to Cointelegraph, Telegram founder Pavel Durov remains perplexed about his detention in France last August, suspecting political motives linked to efforts by authorities to address alleged illicit activities on the messaging platform. This was highlighted during Durov's interview with Tucker Carlson, which aired on YouTube.
In his first public appearance since his arrest on August 24, 2024, at Bourget Airport near Paris, Durov expressed confusion over French authorities' interest in Telegram's operations, describing it as if the platform were a mystery. He emphasized that Telegram is a large company audited by a Big Four accounting firm, collaborating with major financial institutions and spending millions on legal compliance to ensure adherence to laws across nearly 200 countries. Despite these efforts, Durov was surprised by his detention and the allegations against Telegram.
French prosecutors indicted Durov on six charges, including complicity in criminal activity, non-compliance with French authorities, money laundering, criminal association, providing crypto services without proper declaration, and facilitating the spread of illicit content due to Telegram's limited moderation. These charges could potentially lead to a 10-year prison sentence. Durov argued that the accusations were unfounded, claiming that French authorities did not follow due process in requesting information from him or Telegram.
During the interview, Carlson questioned Durov about the charges and his restricted movements. Durov admitted his confusion, stating that the allegations of failing to respond to legal requests were inaccurate and that the interpretation of complicity was extensive even for the French legal system. His lawyers described the detainment as unprecedented, and Durov remains in France under judicial control amid the ongoing investigation.
Carlson criticized the manner of Durov's detention, suggesting it was intended to humiliate him. Durov agreed, noting that his lawyers informed him that the prosecutor's office typically operates discreetly, which was not the case in his situation. Despite the silence from civil libertarians, the TON Community reported that over 9 million Telegram users signed a letter advocating for Durov's release.
This interview marked Durov's first public discussion since his arrest, although he had previously stated that Telegram was prepared to withdraw from countries that do not support the platform's commitment to free speech. Telegram has since grown significantly, reaching one billion monthly active users as of March, according to industry data.
