Durov holds UAE, French and Russian nationality and was based in Dubai before his arrest in Paris.
Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov delivers a keynote speech at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, February 23, 2016. (REUTERS/Albert Geer//File Photo)
The United Arab Emirates has asked France to grant access to Pavel Durov, its national and Telegram founder, who was arrested at Paris-Le Bourget airport on Saturday as part of a cybercrime investigation.
“The UAE has requested the government of the French Republic to provide all urgently necessary consular services,” the foreign ministry told WAM news agency on Tuesday.
“Prioritizing the welfare of UAE nationals, safeguarding their interests and providing support in all respects is a key priority for the UAE,” the ministry added.
The Paris prosecutor’s office said late on Tuesday that Durov would remain in police custody for up to 48 hours as investigations continue into how the messaging app used by 900 million users allowed illegal activities such as drug trafficking and money laundering to go unchecked without proper controls, and how he refused to allow French authorities to wiretap suspects.
Born in St. Petersburg, Durov also holds French, Russian and St. Kitts and Nevis citizenship.
The Russian embassy in France has requested to meet Durov, but Russian authorities have called the arrest politically motivated.
The Kremlin said on Tuesday that the accusations against Durov would be considered an attack on freedom of communication unless backed up by rigorous evidence.
But French President Emmanuel Macron denied that the arrest of the Telegram founder was a political decision and insisted that France was committed to freedom of expression within the constraints of the rule of law.
“In a country governed by the rule of law, freedoms are protected within a legal framework to protect citizens and respect their fundamental rights, both on social media and in real life,” he wrote to X. “Enforcing the law is the responsibility of a fully independent judiciary.”
Meanwhile, Dubai-based Telegram denied any wrongdoing by its boss, saying it had “nothing to hide” and that it “complies with EU law, including the Digital Services Act.” The company defended its moderation policies, saying they were “within industry standards and are constantly improving.”
“It is absurd to claim that the platforms or their owners are responsible for misuse of their platforms,” the statement added.
Under French law, Durov must be charged or released by Wednesday evening.