The UAE has urged France to provide Durov with “full consular services” and said ensuring the protection of UAE nationals is a “top priority”.
The United Arab Emirates says it is closely monitoring the case of Telegram messaging app founder and CEO Pavel Durov, an Emirati citizen, after his arrest by French authorities and his initial detention was extended.
The Paris prosecutor’s office said Russian-born Durov, 39, was detained at Le Bourget airport in Paris on Saturday following a judicial investigation launched last month into 12 criminal charges related to the popular Telegram app.
The UAE’s foreign ministry said in a statement early Tuesday morning that it was “closely monitoring” Durov’s case and had “asked the French government to urgently provide him with all consular services.”
“Caring for the people, protecting their interests, tracking their affairs and providing all-round care to the people are the top priorities of the UAE,” the ministry said in a statement.
Durov was born in Russia but spent most of his childhood in Italy and is a citizen of the UAE, France, Russia and the Caribbean island nation of Saint Kitts and Nevis.
French President Emmanuel Macron said in his first official comments on the arrests on Monday that they were not a political move but part of an independent investigation.
Macron said in a social media post that France was “deeply committed” to freedom of expression, but that “freedom is protected within a legal framework to protect citizens and respect fundamental rights, both on social media and in real life.”
According to reports, France and the UAE maintain close military ties, with France operating a naval base in Abu Dhabi and the UAE military using French-made Leclerc tanks and Rafale fighter jets.
Russian government officials have expressed outrage over Durov’s detention, with some calling it politically motivated and evidence of double standards on press freedom in the West.
After the arrest of Pavel Durov, we received false information about France.
France is deeply committed to freedom of expression and communication, innovation and entrepreneurship, and will continue to be so.
In a country governed by the rule of law…
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) August 26, 2024
Telegram defended its operations in a statement, saying it complies with EU law and that its content moderation is “within industry standards and is continually improving.”
The company added that Durov “has nothing to hide and travels frequently around Europe.”
French media reported that Durov was being held on an arrest warrant on suspicion that his messaging platform was being used for money laundering, drug trafficking and other crimes.
A French investigative judge extended Durov’s detention order on Sunday night, according to French media, but as of Monday afternoon he had not been charged and few details about the investigation were known.
Under French law, Durov can be held for questioning for up to four days, after which a judge must decide whether to charge him or release him.
