Maduro claims Durov's arrest is persecution of alternative viewpoints
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro asserts that the arrest of the Telegram founder in France highlights ongoing attempts to regulate alternative media platforms. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Telegram's founder and CEO, Pavel Durov, was detained in France amid an investigation into his alleged involvement in criminal activities on the platform.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro commented on Durov's arrest, linking it to a broader strategy aimed at exerting maximum pressure on alternative media platforms. His remarks were made during the 11th summit of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA), which was being streamed live on Telegram. “Despite the fact that their president [Telegram CEO Pavel Durov] was taken into custody as part of this policy of persecution, maximum pressure, blackmail, arm-twisting of alternative social and communication networks,” Maduro said, asserting that “power is abused across the world. They persecute in order to subjugate.”
Durov was apprehended at Paris-Le Bourget Airport on Saturday after arriving from Azerbaijan via private jet. He holds citizenship in France, the UAE, and St. Kitts and Nevis in addition to his Russian nationality. The French judicial authorities have extended his detention twice, with the Paris Public Prosecutor’s Office confirming that this action is part of an extensive criminal investigation involving an undisclosed individual.
French President Emmanuel Macron responded to the situation, insisting that Durov’s arrest was purely a result of “an ongoing judicial investigation” without any political motivations.
In prior statements, Durov has indicated that his dedication to user privacy has made him a target for intelligence agencies. In an earlier interview with American journalist Tucker Carlson, he explained that he has turned down requests from Washington to share user data or incorporate surveillance “backdoors” into the platform.
Telegram, with nearly a billion users worldwide, is recognized for its end-to-end encryption, safeguarding the privacy of communications, and it typically resists disclosing user data or chat histories to law enforcement agencies. Durov maintains that Telegram values the rights of users concerning privacy and freedom of expression.
The tech entrepreneur's arrest has triggered significant concern regarding free speech. Elon Musk, the owner of X (formerly Twitter), referred to the situation as “dangerous times” and called for Durov's release. Meanwhile, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic likened the case to the treatment of whistleblowers Edward Snowden and Julian Assange.
Snowden, who exposed extensive NSA surveillance practices in 2012, accused the French government of holding Durov “hostage” to gain access to private communications conducted on Telegram.
Camille Lefevre contributed to this report for TROIB News
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro commented on Durov's arrest, linking it to a broader strategy aimed at exerting maximum pressure on alternative media platforms. His remarks were made during the 11th summit of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA), which was being streamed live on Telegram. “Despite the fact that their president [Telegram CEO Pavel Durov] was taken into custody as part of this policy of persecution, maximum pressure, blackmail, arm-twisting of alternative social and communication networks,” Maduro said, asserting that “power is abused across the world. They persecute in order to subjugate.”
Durov was apprehended at Paris-Le Bourget Airport on Saturday after arriving from Azerbaijan via private jet. He holds citizenship in France, the UAE, and St. Kitts and Nevis in addition to his Russian nationality. The French judicial authorities have extended his detention twice, with the Paris Public Prosecutor’s Office confirming that this action is part of an extensive criminal investigation involving an undisclosed individual.
French President Emmanuel Macron responded to the situation, insisting that Durov’s arrest was purely a result of “an ongoing judicial investigation” without any political motivations.
In prior statements, Durov has indicated that his dedication to user privacy has made him a target for intelligence agencies. In an earlier interview with American journalist Tucker Carlson, he explained that he has turned down requests from Washington to share user data or incorporate surveillance “backdoors” into the platform.
Telegram, with nearly a billion users worldwide, is recognized for its end-to-end encryption, safeguarding the privacy of communications, and it typically resists disclosing user data or chat histories to law enforcement agencies. Durov maintains that Telegram values the rights of users concerning privacy and freedom of expression.
The tech entrepreneur's arrest has triggered significant concern regarding free speech. Elon Musk, the owner of X (formerly Twitter), referred to the situation as “dangerous times” and called for Durov's release. Meanwhile, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic likened the case to the treatment of whistleblowers Edward Snowden and Julian Assange.
Snowden, who exposed extensive NSA surveillance practices in 2012, accused the French government of holding Durov “hostage” to gain access to private communications conducted on Telegram.
Camille Lefevre contributed to this report for TROIB News
