French officials aim to 'shut down' Telegram, says Russian human rights leader
France detained Pavel Durov in an effort to “shut down” Telegram, according to Russia's leading human rights official. Read Full Article at RT.com.
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Russian human rights commissioner Tatyana Moskalkova has criticized the arrest of Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, as an attack on free speech.
Durov was detained after his aircraft arrived at Paris-Le Bourget Airport on Saturday. Although French officials have not yet made a formal comment, reports from local news suggest the prosecutors accused Durov of not preventing criminals from using Telegram.
Moskalkova expressed her views on Telegram, stating 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 emphasized that Durov's arrest has outraged those who value free speech and the goal of a multipolar world.
She further criticized the arrest in another post, claiming it was “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,” Moskalkova commented. She accused such countries of preferring to exert control over the free expression of opinions rather than addressing crime, discrimination, and human rights abuses.
Moskalkova portrayed Durov as someone who has “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.”
In response to the arrest, Telegram released a statement on Sunday affirming its compliance with EU laws and its moderation policies. The statement described as “absurd” the notion that Durov could be held accountable for the misuse of the platform by malign users. To enhance compliance with EU regulations, Telegram had earlier appointed a Belgian legal representative.
Durov has been steadfast in his refusal to provide user data to authorities or to install surveillance backdoors. He has publicly discussed the pressure he faced from the US and his reasons for disagreeing with the Russian government, which led him to relocate to the UAE from Russia in the 2010s.
Durov's detention has drawn criticism from numerous Russian politicians, who suggest the motivations behind the arrest could be political. Prominent Western figures, such as journalist Tucker Carlson and entrepreneur Elon Musk, have also defended Durov.
Emily Johnson for TROIB News
Durov was detained after his aircraft arrived at Paris-Le Bourget Airport on Saturday. Although French officials have not yet made a formal comment, reports from local news suggest the prosecutors accused Durov of not preventing criminals from using Telegram.
Moskalkova expressed her views on Telegram, stating 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 emphasized that Durov's arrest has outraged those who value free speech and the goal of a multipolar world.
She further criticized the arrest in another post, claiming it was “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,” Moskalkova commented. She accused such countries of preferring to exert control over the free expression of opinions rather than addressing crime, discrimination, and human rights abuses.
Moskalkova portrayed Durov as someone who has “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.”
In response to the arrest, Telegram released a statement on Sunday affirming its compliance with EU laws and its moderation policies. The statement described as “absurd” the notion that Durov could be held accountable for the misuse of the platform by malign users. To enhance compliance with EU regulations, Telegram had earlier appointed a Belgian legal representative.
Durov has been steadfast in his refusal to provide user data to authorities or to install surveillance backdoors. He has publicly discussed the pressure he faced from the US and his reasons for disagreeing with the Russian government, which led him to relocate to the UAE from Russia in the 2010s.
Durov's detention has drawn criticism from numerous Russian politicians, who suggest the motivations behind the arrest could be political. Prominent Western figures, such as journalist Tucker Carlson and entrepreneur Elon Musk, have also defended Durov.
Emily Johnson for TROIB News
