French President Macron Reacts to Arrest of Telegram Founder, Pavel Durov

Posted by Thandiubani on Tue 27th Aug, 2024 - tori.ng

Macron reiterated that France is committed to freedom of expression and communication and also praises the spirit of entrepreneurship.

French President Emmanuel Macron has broken his silence following the arrest of Russian Telegram founder Pavel Durov.

Durov was arrest in France after he landed in the country.

Reacting on Tuesday via X, the French President said the arrest was part of an ongoing judicial process and had no political inclinations whatsoever.

Macron reiterated that France is committed to freedom of expression and communication and also praises the spirit of entrepreneurship.

“I have seen false information regarding France following the arrest of Pavel Durov. France is deeply committed to freedom of expression and communication, to innovation, and to the spirit of entrepreneurship. It will remain so.

“In a state governed by the rule of law, freedoms are upheld within a legal framework, both on social media and in real life, to protect citizens and respect their fundamental rights.

“It is up to the judiciary, in full independence, to enforce the law. The arrest of the president of Telegram on French soil took place as part of an ongoing judicial investigation. It is in no way a political decision. It is up to the judges to rule on the matter,” Macron stated.

The statement by Macron sparked a flurry of reactions from the global community including influential voices like Elon Musk.

Elon Musk in response to the statement by the French President demanded more explanation on the reason behind Pavel Durov’s arrest

“It would be helpful to the global public to understand more details about why he was arrested” Musk Tweeted.

Following the arrest of Pavel Durov, The Russian embassy in France made frantic attempts to access Pavel Durov but it was futile. The embassy released a statement alleging that the French authorities were making it difficult to access Pavel Durov.

Recall that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) foreign ministry also said in a statement today that it was closely following the situation on the ground.

“The UAE has submitted a request to the Government of the French Republic to provide him with all the necessary consular services in an urgent manner,” the Ministry’s communication directors said.