UAE Requests Consular Services for Arrested Telegram Founder Pavel Durov

In a surprise move, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has requested consular services for Pavel Durov, the founder of popular messaging app Telegram, who was arrested in France over allegations of failing to curb criminal activity on the platform.

According to a statement from the UAE’s foreign ministry, the Gulf state is “closely following the case” of its citizen Durov, who was arrested at Paris-Le Bourget Airport on Saturday. The UAE has submitted a request to the French government to provide Durov with all necessary consular services in an urgent manner.

Durov, a 39-year-old billionaire, is accused of failing to curb the spread of illegal content on Telegram, which has over 900 million users. The company has rejected the accusations, stating that it abides by EU laws, including the Digital Services Act, and that its moderation is within industry standards.

French President Emmanuel Macron denied any political involvement in Durov’s arrest, as the internet mogul spent a second day in French custody. Late Monday, French authorities extended his initial detention for questioning until Wednesday.

Durov set up Telegram after leaving Russia a decade ago and holds dual citizenship of the UAE and France. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Moscow had received no information from France about the reasons behind Durov’s detention.

In a statement, Telegram said that Durov has “nothing to hide” and travels frequently in Europe. The company emphasized that it is absurd to claim that a platform or its owner is responsible for abuse of that platform.

The arrest of Telegram’s founder has sparked widespread interest, with many wondering what the implications will be for the popular messaging app and its users. As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how Durov’s case will proceed and what consequences he may face.