The Kremlin has issued a warning to France, urging them not to turn the criminal case against Telegram founder Pavel Durov into a case of “political persecution.”
Durov, who was unexpectedly arrested in Paris earlier this week, faces charges in France related to his failure to prevent extremist and illegal content on Telegram. The Russian government, currently cracking down on political dissent amid its Ukraine conflict, has suggested that Durov’s arrest is politically motivated.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphasized the need to avoid any political persecution in France. “We view him as a Russian citizen and will offer assistance as much as possible,” Peskov stated, adding that they will closely monitor the developments.
Durov, who holds both Russian and French citizenship, was released on bail set at five million euros, with the conditions that he reports to a police station twice a week and remains in France, according to French prosecutors.
Telegram, one of Russia’s most widely used messaging apps, has garnered significant attention. Following Durov’s arrest, Russian officials quickly came to his defense, standing by him since the incident at the Paris airport.
