Russian foreign minister criticizes Telegram founder’s mgt style

• Published On: 02 September 2024 at 20:14

Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, was recently arrested in France, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov criticised him on Monday for being "too free" in his management of the social media platform.

Lavrov suggested that Durov's unrestrained approach contributed to his current situation.

Last week, a French judge opened a formal investigation into Durov, a Russian-born entrepreneur, for allegedly managing a platform linked to illegal activities such as drug trafficking, child exploitation, and fraud.

Durov's legal team has called the charges "absurd," claiming that he should not be held accountable for crimes committed by users of the app, which has nearly 1 billion users and is especially popular in Russia, Ukraine, and other former Soviet states.

Speaking to students at Moscow's prestigious MGIMO University, Lavrov reiterated the Kremlin's position that the investigation is part of a Western political strategy to undermine Russia. "Pavel Durov was too free," Lavrov explained. "He disregarded Western advice on moderating his platform."

In response to Durov's legal issues, the Kremlin has expressed strong support for him. Last week, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that no negotiations had taken place between the Kremlin and Durov, who also holds French and UAE passports. Peskov went on: "The critical issue is to ensure that this situation in France does not turn into political persecution."

Despite ongoing diplomatic tensions, French President Emmanuel Macron has denied that Durov's detention was motivated by political reasons. Lavrov has warned that Durov's arrest, the first for a major tech CEO, has strained relations between Moscow and Paris.