France gives reasons, Russia accuses the US of "directing"

The CEO of messaging app Telegram has been arrested in France on 12 criminal charges, while Russia believes the US is involved in the case.

The arrest of Telegram founder, billionaire Pavel Durov. (Source: Reuters)

On August 24, billionaire Pavel Durov, a Russian who also holds French, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saint Kitts and Nevis (Caribbean country) citizenship, was arrested in France to serve a preliminary police investigation.

According to Xinhua news agency, on August 27, Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau announced that France arrested Telegram CEO Pavel Durov to investigate 12 criminal charges.

She said the arrests were made as part of a judicial investigation that began on July 8, following an investigation initiated by the cybercrime unit of the Paris Prosecutor's Office.

This investigation concerns allegations of illegal transactions, possession or provision of pornographic images of minors…. In addition, French police are also investigating the refusal to provide information or documents required by competent authorities to carry out legitimate surveillance activities.

According to Ms. Beccuau, Mr. Durov’s detention could last up to 96 hours from August 24, according to the procedure applied to organized crime. Once the initial interrogation period is over, Mr. Durov could be released or charged and remain in detention.

Earlier in the day, French President Emmanuel Macron denied that the arrest of Durov's founder was politically motivated, stressing that it was up to the investigating judges to decide the case.

Meanwhile, on August 26, on the Telegram application, Chairman of the State Duma (Lower House) of Russia Vyacheslav Volodin said that the US was behind the above arrest.

Without providing evidence, Mr. Volodin claimed that the US, through France, tried to control Telegram.

"Telegram is one of the few and at the same time the largest Internet platform that the US has no influence over. Ahead of the US presidential election, it is important that President Joe Biden controls Telegram," the official said.

France and the United States have not commented on the Russian parliamentarian's accusations.

With nearly 1 billion users, Telegram is particularly influential in Russia and other former Soviet countries.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/vu-bat-giu-nha-sang-lap-telegram-phap-neu-ly-do-nga-to-my-dao-dien-284052.html