France’s Macron says arrest of the head of Telegram messaging app Pavel Durov wasn’t political
By The Associated Press on August 26, 2024.
PARIS (AP) – French President Emmanuel Macron said Monday that the arrest in France of the CEO of the popular messaging app Telegram, Pavel Durov, wasn’t a political move but part of an independent investigation. In France’s first public comment on the arrest, Macron posted on the social media platform X that his country “is deeply committed” to freedom of expression but “freedoms are upheld within a legal framework, both on social media and in real life, to protect citizens and respect their fundamental rights.” He said the arrest “is in no way a political decision. It is up to the judges to rule on the matter.” French media reported that Durov was detained at a Paris airport on Saturday on an arrest warrant alleging his platform has been used for money laundering, drug trafficking and other offenses. 5-4
