Tatyana Moskalkova has condemned the arrest of Pavel Durov as a violation of free speech
Russia’s top human rights official, Tatyana Moskalkova, has stated that the French authorities arrested Telegram founder Pavel Durov with the intention of shutting down the platform, which is known for its lack of censorship.
The Russian-born tech entrepreneur was apprehended after his private jet landed at Paris-Le Bourget Airport on Saturday. While French authorities promised to release an official statement on Monday, local media reported that prosecutors believe Durov failed to prevent criminals from using his platform.
In a Telegram post on Sunday, Moskalkova asserted that “the real reason behind Pavel Durov’s arrest is an attempt to shut down Telegram, the platform where you can find the truth about world affairs.” She added that the persecution of Durov angers “everyone who supports the freedom of speech and the creation of the multipolar world.”
In a separate post, Moskalkova denounced Durov’s detention as “another gross violation of the freedom of speech.”
“It is another glaring example of double standards when it comes to the respect of fundamental human rights by countries that praise democracy but, in reality, are seeking to crush it,” she wrote. “Instead of fighting crime, discrimination, and other human rights violations, they want total control over expression of opinions.”
Moskalkova described Durov as a man who had “created an easy-to-use, simple and accessible tool for communication between people all over the world, a channel for the rapid spread of information that is free from censorship.”
Telegram issued a statement on Sunday, stating that the company was adhering to EU laws and content-moderation policies. It argued that it was “absurd” to claim that Durov was responsible for the misuse of the platform by malicious actors. Earlier this year, Telegram appointed a Belgian legal representative to ensure EU compliance.
Durov has consistently refused to provide user data to authorities or install a so-called surveillance “backdoor,” and spoke publicly about the pressure he faced from the US. He was also vocal about his disagreements with the Russian government, which contributed to his decision to leave Russia in the 2010s and move to the UAE.
Despite this, many Russian politicians condemned Durov’s arrest, with some suggesting that it could be politically motivated. Several public figures in the West, including journalist Tucker Carlson and entrepreneur Elon Musk, also voiced their support for Durov.