Telegram CEO allegedly told Paris police meeting with French President was reason for visiting France.
French newspaper Le Canard Enchaine published a report claiming that Telegram CEO Pavel Durov was invited for a dinner by President Emmanuel Macron in order to trick him into being arrested.
Durov was arrested on Saturday at Le Bourget airport near Paris and faces up to 20 years in prison for his alleged complicity in the sale of child sexual abuse material, drug trafficking, fraud, and involvement in organized crime.
Durov is essentially being charged with these crimes because criminals used his platform to facilitate them, which would set a ludicrous legal precedent making social media owners personally responsible for literally everything anyone posts on their platforms.
Macron gave a speech on Monday insisting that the arrest was not politically motivated and, laughably, that France supports freedom of speech.
🇫🇷 Pavel Durov said that he was lured to France by President Macron.
— Zlatti71 (@Zlatti_71) August 27, 2024
It turns out that the French president invited Durov to dine together. Pavel told about this during interrogation by the police, the French newspaper Le Canard Chainé claims.
But instead of lunch, Durov was… pic.twitter.com/sWVWbQUuZ3
However, according to French investigative newspaper Le Canard Enchaine, Durov told Paris police that he was scheduled to meet Macron for a dinner on the day of his arrest.
This has prompted allegations that the French government tricked Durov into flying in to France merely as a pretext to arrest him.
Florian Philippot, leader of the Les Patriots Party, suggested that the dinner invite was a deliberate act of deception.
#Macron a-t-il piégé Pavel #Durov ?! ⤵️
— Florian Philippot (@f_philippot) August 27, 2024
Le Canard Enchaîné vient de révéler que le PDG de Telegram a déclaré à la police qu’il devait dîner avec Macron le soir !
Macron est parfaitement capable de ce genre de fourberie, dans le but de remplir la mission exigée par ses maîtres :… pic.twitter.com/twarh3UKcc
“Macron is perfectly capable of this kind of trickery, in order to fulfill the mission demanded by his masters: to put in jail all those who defend freedom of expression!” Philippot posted on X.
The Élysée and Macron’s office has denied the claims.
Back in 2018, Macron also reportedly invited Durov to relocate Telegram’s headquarters from Dubai to Paris, although Durov said he was not interested in doing so.
Durov could be subject to house arrest and be slapped with a travel ban if he is charged.
