French President Emmanuel Macron has defended his decision to grant fast-track citizenship to the CEO of messaging app “Telegram” Pavel Durov, against whom preliminary charges have been brought in France for alleged criminal activity in his popular platform, reports the Associated Press, quoted by BTA.
Macron also said he did not know Durov would arrive in France before his surprise arrest at the weekend and had not planned to meet him.
Free speech advocates, far-right figures and authoritarian governments around the world have spoken out in Durov's defense and criticized French authorities over the case. Durov was released on bail of 5 million euros, but was banned from leaving France and ordered to report to a police station twice a week while the investigation continues.
French prosecutors accuse Durov of complicity in enabling drug trafficking and the sharing of sexual images of children on “Telegram”, as well as refusing to cooperate with authorities investigating illegal activity on the app.
Durov's lawyer, David-Olivier Kaminsky, told French media that “it is completely absurd to think that a person in charge of a social network could be involved in criminal acts that do not directly concern him or indirectly“.
The case has drawn attention to the challenges associated with controlling illegal activity on the Internet, as well as to the unusual biography and multiple passports of the Russian-born Durov, AP notes.
Speaking at a press conference during his visit to Serbia, Macron said last night that France supports freedom of expression and the freedom of entrepreneurs. He said that the approval of Durov's application for French citizenship — like sports stars, performers and others who contribute to France's wealth and learn French — is “good for our country“.
Macron also mentioned the CEO of “Snapchat” Evan Spiegel, who, like Durov, received French citizenship not through the usual difficult and bureaucratic process, but through a special procedure for “deserving foreigners”.
The French satirical and investigative newspaper “Le Canar Enscheine“ reported that when he was arrested on Saturday, Durov told police that he planned to meet with Macron.
Macron denies this: “I was absolutely unaware of Mr. Durov's arrival in France,“ said the French president. “It is not true that I have offered him any invitation.“
His arrest is “an independent act of French justice”, the president added.