Pavel Durov, Russian-born billionaire founding father of Telegram messaging app Arrested on landing in Paris on Saturday nightthere was extra hypothesis than substance about his destiny.
A headline from a Russian newspaper summed up the occasion: “The arrest (or detention) of Pavel Durov, the ‘Russian Zuckerberg,’ is likely one of the most vital but mysterious world information tales,” declared the Nezavisimaya Gazeta.
actual.
Simply to say “mysterious” is a little bit of an understatement.
Why did French police detain him? What fees will he face? Does this have something to do along with his latest go to to Azerbaijan and assembly (or not assembly) Russian President Vladimir Putin?
For 2 days, journalists have been citing “sources near the investigation” in regards to the potential crimes for which Pavel Durov could possibly be charged (allegedly, starting from drug trafficking conspiracy to fraud). Telegram issued an announcement saying Mr Durov had “nothing to cover”.
On Monday night time, the Paris prosecutor mentioned in an announcement that Mr. Durov was detained in reference to a cybercrime investigation.
The assertion talked about 12 completely different crimes being investigated and mentioned they have been linked to organized crime.
Prosecutors mentioned these included unlawful transactions, youngster pornography, fraud and refusal to reveal info to authorities.
Mr Durov’s detention has been prolonged and should now final till Wednesday, the assertion added.
President Emmanuel Macron posted on social media that he had seen “disinformation” about France after Durov’s arrest, however gave no particulars, including: “That is by no means a political choice.
In Moscow, the Kremlin is cautious.
“We nonetheless do not know what precisely Durov is accused of,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov instructed reporters on Monday, commenting for the primary time on Pavel Durov’s detention.
“We’ve not heard any official assertion. Earlier than I say something about it, we have to make clear a couple of issues.
Not each Russian thinks clarification is required.
State tv’s flagship political discuss present had quite a bit to say in regards to the matter on Monday.
“All these accusations in opposition to Durov sound ridiculous,” declared a political analyst on the studio. “Accusing him of all of the crimes he dedicated on his platform is like accusing [France’s] President Macron expresses his displeasure with all of the crimes happening in France. It is the identical logic.
Russian newspapers additionally picked up the story. A number of newspapers feared that Pavel Durov’s arrest might have severe penalties for Russia.
“A crackdown on Telegram could possibly be a blow to Russia,” Nezavisimaya Gazeta wrote. “With the arrest of Pavel Durov, Western intelligence companies can acquire entry to the messenger’s encryption keys.”
“If Pavel Durov is compelled to obey French intelligence, Telegram might change into a instrument of NATO,” the Moscow Komsomolets member declared. “Telegram chats comprise a considerable amount of important strategic info,” he added.
In April 2018, Russian authorities started blocking Telegram, and the ban was not lifted till 2020. Operation” (Russian Struggle in Ukraine).
“If Telegram crashes,” a member of the Moscow Komsomol requested immediately, ” [our army] Wish to combat?
Within the West, Pavel Durov’s detention sparked a debate over free speech.
In Russia, the presidential human rights ombudsman Tatyana Moskova additionally claimed that “the true cause for the arrest of Pavel Durov is to close down Telegram, a platform the place one can uncover the reality about what is going on on this planet. Everybody who fights for freedom of speech Individuals protested in opposition to this.
Ms Moskalkova didn’t point out the Sign messaging app, which Russian authorities blocked entry to earlier this month, or YouTube, whose entry is at the moment severely restricted in Russia. Fb and Instagram are already blocked right here.
What in regards to the rumors of a gathering between Putin and Durov in Baku in early August? Is there any?
Once I requested, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded: “No.”
Regardless of the end result of this mysterious story, Moscow will use it to strengthen one in every of its official narratives: Russian residents needs to be cautious of the West.
As the favored tabloid Komsomolskaya Pravda put it: “For the West, there isn’t any such factor as a ‘good Russian’ anymore.”
