Pavel Durov was released from detention

According to Isna’s report, “Reuters” today quoted a judicial source as saying that Telegram’s CEO was taken from police custody to meet with an investigative judge.

According to Reuters, the judge is to decide whether to formally question Mr. Durov after his arrest as part of an investigation into organized crime at the messaging app.

This well-known Russian entrepreneur in the field of technology and CEO of Telegram company, who also holds French citizenship, was accused of “terrorism, drug trafficking and money laundering” late on Saturday, shortly after the plane carrying him landed at Le Bourget airport in Paris. was arrested

Agence France-Presse also reported, citing its sources, that after almost four days of questioning by French investigators, Durov was handed over to judicial authorities to decide on further actions.

A Paris judge will decide whether to press charges against the Telegram founder, and then the court will decide whether to detain him or release him, possibly including restrictions.

Sources close to the investigation have said that Durov is under investigation on the suspicion of 12 crimes related to the lack of control of extremist and criminal content in Telegram.

Questions have been raised about the timing and circumstances of Durov’s arrest, with supporters seeing him as a champion of free speech and opponents as a threat to free speech who willfully let Telegram get out of control.

The French news agency “Le Monde” reported on Wednesday that the billionaire met French President Emmanuel Macron on several occasions before receiving French citizenship in 2021, through a special procedure for those deemed to have made a special contribution to the country. has met

The American publication “Wall Street Journal” also wrote in a report referring to the events and narratives of the past 6 years and citing knowledgeable sources: “6 years before he was arrested in France, Pavel Durov was in a different situation than he is now.” And he even arranged a lunch meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron. In this previously unreported 2018 meeting, Macron invited the Russian-born Durov to move Telegram to Paris. “Although President Macron promised to grant him French citizenship, Durov refused to accept such a request at that time.”

This American newspaper further reported: “In 2017, a year before Durov’s business meeting with Macron, French spies hacked Durov’s iPhone during a joint operation with the United Arab Emirates. This previously unreported espionage operation was called “Purple Music” and French security officials were very concerned about ISIS accessing Telegram to recruit agents to carry out attacks.

“Governments have targeted Durov as a wide range of groups, from democracy advocates and opposition figures to extremists, drug traffickers and cybercriminals, have been attracted to Telegram,” the Wall Street Journal wrote.

According to what one person close to Durov says: “His company has been ignoring subpoenas and orders sent by the court for years, and they pile up in the company mailbox and are rarely checked.”

This is while Telegram currently says that it complies with the “Digital Services Act of the European Union”; A law that requires online companies to cooperate with authorities to combat the publication of illegal content on their platforms.

While there is no indication whether Macron’s previous meeting with Durov or the hacking of his cellphone played a role in the CEO’s arrest, the details shed light on the “long and complicated relationship with France and the UAE.”

Despite such history between the Telegram CEO and the French president, after his detention was extended, the investigating judge decided on Wednesday to end the preliminary police questioning and meet with Durov, who has been in police custody since his arrest, to discuss further. Research to decide.

Being under formal investigation in France does not mean guilt or necessarily lead to a trial, but rather shows that judges have enough evidence to continue investigating the case.

Investigations can take years to go to court or be filed altogether.

On Monday, the French President rejected the arrest of “Pavel Durov” for political reasons and said that the judicial authorities should decide on this case.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia also announced that the country’s embassy in Paris is clarifying the situation surrounding Durov and asked Western non-governmental organizations to demand his release.

The Wall Street Journal writes at the end of this report: “Despite the 2018 meeting with Macron, French officials have long been suspicious of Telegram and view it with suspicion.”

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