Kremlin Reassures Public After Telegram Founder Pavel Durov’s Arrest in France
The Kremlin has moved to calm growing concerns over the security and future of Telegram following the arrest of the platform’s founder, Pavel Durov, in France. Telegram, a messaging app widely used in Russia and critical for coordinating military operations in Ukraine, has become the focus of intense speculation following Durov’s detention.
Russian government spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed as “utterly stupid” the calls for users to delete sensitive messages from Telegram, a suggestion that gained traction after the arrest. Notably, Margarita Simonyan, the editor of Russia’s state-run RT news, was among those voicing such concerns. Peskov emphasized that the charges against Durov are serious but insisted that French authorities must provide equally substantial evidence. He warned that any failure to do so would be seen as a direct attack on freedom of communication and an intimidation tactic against the head of a major global company.
The Kremlin’s reassurances underscore the strategic importance of Telegram to Russia’s military and political apparatus. The app’s robust encryption, limited content moderation, and ability to handle large files have made it indispensable in war zones, including Ukraine, where it is used by officials to disseminate military updates and air raid warnings.
French President Emmanuel Macron, in an unusual public comment on a legal matter, stated that the charges against Durov are not politically motivated. The Paris prosecutor’s office has accused Durov of enabling money laundering, drug trafficking, and the distribution of child pornography through Telegram. Furthermore, Durov allegedly refused to assist French authorities in intercepting potentially illicit communications on the platform.
In Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov claimed, without providing evidence, that Durov’s arrest might be part of an effort to force him into revealing encryption codes used by Telegram. Lavrov expressed concern that Durov is being threatened with severe punishment as a way to gain access to the app’s secure communications.
Telegram, with nearly 950 million users worldwide, has emerged as a vital tool in both restricted regions and conflict zones. In Russia, it is particularly popular among pro-Kremlin bloggers and the military, who rely on its secure communication features. Some military bloggers have reacted strongly to Durov’s arrest, with one likening it to the detention of “the head of communications for the Russian Armed Forces.”
The app’s significance is further highlighted by the fact that Durov, who previously refused to provide the Russian government with user data from his earlier social media platform Vkontakte (VK), now enjoys the Kremlin’s backing. Despite his past conflicts with Moscow, Durov and Telegram are currently based in Dubai, where the company continues to operate.
The situation remains tense as users and officials alike await further developments regarding Durov’s legal battle in France and the potential implications for Telegram’s future.
