The United Arab Emirates said Monday it is closely monitoring developments of Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov following his arrest by French authorities on Saturday.
The UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it has "submitted a request to the French government to urgently provide him with all consular services," according to a statement.
“Caring for citizens, preserving their interests, and providing them with all necessary support are top priorities for the UAE,” the ministry said.
Durov, a Russian-born entrepreneur and Emirati citizen was detained on Saturday at Paris-Le Bourget Airport as part of a judicial investigation initiated last month.
Telegram Responds to Founder and CEO Pavel Durov's Arrest in France
Telegram has hit back against the stunning arrest of its CEO and founder, Pavel Durov, claiming he has "nothing to hide" in a statement posted to the messaging platform's official news channel. "Telegram abides by EU laws, including the Digital Services Act—its moderation is within industry standards and constantly improving," it said on Sunday. Durov was arrested in France late Saturday after arriving from Azerbaijan on his private jet at Le Bourget airport outside Paris. The detention of Durov...
The inquiry into Durov involves 12 alleged criminal violations connected to the messaging app Telegram, the Paris prosecutor's office revealed Monday.
Those charges include complicity in facilitating illegal transactions, refusal to cooperate with law enforcement, involvement in child pornography and narcotics distribution, organized fraud, money laundering, and the unlawful provision of cryptographic tools.
Durov, who holds citizenship in France, Russia, the UAE, and St. Kitts and Nevis, was arrested by French authorities while stepping off his private jet outside of Paris on Saturday evening.
The move outraged the crypto community and privacy advocates, including Edward Snowden, the former NSA contractor who was convicted of leaking classified information.
In response to the backlash, French President Emmanuel Macron said Monday that Durov's detainment was not politically motivated and that his country was "deeply committed to freedom of expression and communication."
TON Price Plunges 17% After Telegram CEO Pavel Durov Arrested in France: Report
Telegram co-founder and CEO Pavel Durov was arrested in France late Saturday, according to a local media report, after arriving on his private jet from Azerbaijan. As the news spread, the price of Toncoin (TON)—the token of the Telegram-affiliated The Open Network—plunged sharply. The 39-year-old Durov was arrested by France's National Anti-Fraud Office, reports TF1, over what the publication said were various charges tied to alleged illegal conduct by Telegram users that the service reportedly...
Earlier in the week, Telegram responded to the arrest, claiming that its CEO had "nothing to hide" and that it was "absurd to claim that a platform or its owner are responsible for abuse of that platform."
A French investigative judge extended Durov's detention on Sunday night, but by Monday afternoon, no charges had been brought.
Durov can be detained for questioning for up to four days under French law, after which judges must decide whether to charge or let him go.
Telegram's user base surpassed 950 million in July, according to Durov, driven by a surge in users linked to the popularity of crypto-based games available through integrated "mini-apps" on the platform.
Hamster Kombat, the most popular among them, has reportedly attracted over 300 million players in recent months, ahead of its upcoming token launch and airdrop.
