French President Emmanuel Macron during a press conference on August 29, 2024. | Photo credit: AP
French President Emmanuel Macron has defended his decision to grant special fast-track citizenship to refugees. Pavel Durov, CEO of the Telegram messaging appWho is now under preliminary charges in France for alleged criminal activity on his popular platform.
Mr Macron also said on Thursday (August 29, 2024) that he was not aware Durov was coming to France before his sudden arrest, and had no plans to meet him.
Freedom of expression advocates, right-wing figures and authoritarian governments around the world have come out in defense of Durov and criticized French authorities over the case. Durov was released on 5 million euro bail, but was barred from leaving France and ordered to appear at a police station twice a week pending further investigation.
French prosecutors accuse Durov of complicity in allowing drug trafficking Sharing sexual images of children on Telegram, and refusing to cooperate with authorities investigating illegal activity on the app.
Durov’s lawyer, David-Olivier Kaminsky, told French media: “It is completely absurd to think that a person in charge of a social network could be implicated in criminal acts that are not directly or indirectly related to him.” The case has drawn attention to the challenges of monitoring illegal activity online – and also to the unusual biography and multiple passports of the Russian-born Durov.
Speaking at a news conference during a visit to Serbia, Macron said France supports freedom of expression and the freedom of entrepreneurs. He said approving Durov’s request for French nationality – like that of high-profile sports stars, artists and others who contribute to France’s wealth and learn French – is ‘good for our country.’ He also mentioned Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegel, who acquired French citizenship not through the usual difficult and bureaucratic process like Durov but through a special process for ‘qualified foreigners.’
French satirical and investigative newspaper Le Canard Enchaîn reported that at the time of his arrest on Saturday Durov told police he was planning to meet Mr Macron.
Mr. Macron denies this. “I had absolutely no knowledge of Mr. Durov’s arrival in France,” he said, adding, “It is a lie that I extended any kind of invitation to him… His arrest was an independent act of French justice.”