RTThu, 29 Aug 2024 12:35 UTC
© Mohamad Salaheldin Abdelg Alsayed/Getty ImagesPavel Durov's lawyer David-Olivier Kaminski.
The Telegram CEO cannot be involved in crimes that have nothing to do with him, David-Olivier Kaminski says
Charges against Telegram CEO Pavel Durov alleging that he was complicit in a litany of crimes purportedly orchestrated on his platform are completely preposterous, his lawyer has told AFP.Durov, who was arrested upon arrival at a Paris airport last week, was placed under formal investigation on Wednesday and released on bail of €5 million ($5.5 million) on condition that he does not leave France.
His indictment carried a dozen charges, including refusal to cooperate with authorities, complicity in offenses related to child sexual abuse material, and drug trafficking, as well as complicity "administering an online platform" used by organized gangs to conduct illicit transactions. The last crime carries a penalty of up to ten years in prison and a fine of €500,000.
Commenting on the indictment, Durov's lawyer, David-Olivier Kaminski, said: "It's totally absurd to think that the head of a social network could be involved in criminal acts that do not concern him, either directly or indirectly."
He told AFP that
Telegram "complies in all respects with European rules concerning digital technology." His remarks came after the
Financial Times reported that the EU Commission was investigating the platform for possible violations of digital regulations, specifically for allegedly failing to provide authorities with accurate user data.
Durov's arrest has sparked a global outcry, with numerous opinion leaders seeing it as a crackdown on free speech, and suggesting that the US was ultimately behind the detention.
The 39-year-old Russian tech tycoon is also a citizen of France, the UAE, and St. Kitts and Nevis. Kremlin spokesman
Dmitry Peskov has said Moscow is ready to provide Durov with assistance, but added that the billionaire was capable of building his own legal defense.
He
also warned against politicizing Durov's investigation. French President Emmanuel Macron had earlier denied that this was the case, insisting that Paris remains committed to the principles of freedom of expression.
Comment:
1) The French paper
Liberation had an article which translated reads:
What does the judicial control of Pavel Durov, boss of Telegram, banned from leaving France consist of?
Some translated excerpts from the official message and quoted in the article read:
"was placed under judicial supervision with in particular the obligation to provide a deposit of 5 million euros, the obligation to report to the police station twice a week, and the ban on leaving French territory".
"is free and must pay bail, failing which his judicial control may be revoked. He must reside at the address fixed by the judge, with hours to be respected, and the police station will always be the same (unless a change of declared address is granted by the judge)."
"the ban on leaving the territory actually goes hand in hand with the surrender of all passports."
"a judicial review is distinct from a house arrest under electronic surveillance. It is indeed a judicial review which was decided by the judge, without a bracelet therefore".
2) From the same outlet as the article, there was a comment from Nassim Taleb on his view of what Macron has said about the case:
28 Aug, 2024 15:07
Black Swan author slams 'Orwellian' Macron
Nassim Taleb says the French president's words about the arrest of the Telegram founder should be interpreted "in reverse"
© Getty Images / Mohd Zakir; Hindustan TimesLebanese-American essayist, author of 'Black Swan', Nassim Nicholas Taleb
The French leader posted a message on X on Monday insisting that the detention of Durov was "in no way a political decision" and was part of an ongoing "judicial investigation." Macron claimed that France is, and will be, "deeply committed to freedom of expression and communication, to innovation, and to the spirit of entrepreneurship."
However, the president pointed out that "in a state governed by the rule of law, freedoms are upheld within a legal framework" and that "it is up to the judiciary, in full independence, to enforce the law."
Nassim responded to the president's message by writing that "every word he wrote must be interpreted in reverse" and described Macron's statement as "Orwellian."
"Expecting a Hegelian state to safeguard liberty is akin to trusting a bordello owner to promote chastity," the author wrote.
[...]
3) The EU rules stipulate that if a platform has more than 45 million users they have to register and comply with their social media legislation. Telegram used, according to Telegram to have 41 million users. With the publicity given to the case this number might well go up, bringing Telegram monthly users undeniably above the 45 million. How this will affect the platform is to be seen.
4) From the same source there was also:
28 Aug, 2024 16:25
West using 'mafia tactics' on Durov - Serbian MP
France is after Telegram's encryption codes, Aleksandar Pavic has claimed in an interview with RT
[...]
With Macron due in Belgrade later this week, Pavic said he hopes Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic will back his criticism of Durov's arrest with a practical step, such as suspending talks to buy Rafale fighter jets from France.
Note: According to French media, Macron began a two day visit to Serbia on August 29.
5) An alternative to Telegram encryption codes is for France is to implement or request a country blocking like it has done with Rumble and Odysee.
For now only some channels are blocked as requested by European Governments. Politico had this headline in 2022:
Telegram bans Russian state media after pressure from Europe
Major tech firms have also banned RT from their platforms.
6) From TASS there was:
1 Mar 2022, 16:34
RT France's Telegram channel is unavailable in France — RT
The channel has over 50,000 subscribers
7) See also:
8) Simultaneous with the steps in France, will other Governments move in a similar direction? From Jakarta, there was on August 29, 2024 | 10:40 am
Indonesia Mulls Blocking Bigo Live and Telegram Over Porn and Gambling Allegations
Comment:
1) The French paper Liberation had an article which translated reads:
What does the judicial control of Pavel Durov, boss of Telegram, banned from leaving France consist of?
Some translated excerpts from the official message and quoted in the article read: 2) From the same outlet as the article, there was a comment from Nassim Taleb on his view of what Macron has said about the case: 3) The EU rules stipulate that if a platform has more than 45 million users they have to register and comply with their social media legislation. Telegram used, according to Telegram to have 41 million users. With the publicity given to the case this number might well go up, bringing Telegram monthly users undeniably above the 45 million. How this will affect the platform is to be seen.
4) From the same source there was also: Note: According to French media, Macron began a two day visit to Serbia on August 29.
5) An alternative to Telegram encryption codes is for France is to implement or request a country blocking like it has done with Rumble and Odysee.
For now only some channels are blocked as requested by European Governments. Politico had this headline in 2022: 6) From TASS there was: 7) See also:
- Best of the Web: US government-funded censorship arm 'Atlantic Council' targeted Telegram just two months before Durov's arrest
- Fyodor Lukyanov: The arrest of Telegram's billionaire boss shows that big changes are coming
- Durov released on €5 million bail
- How the EU tightened the noose on Telegram
8) Simultaneous with the steps in France, will other Governments move in a similar direction? From Jakarta, there was on August 29, 2024 | 10:40 amIndonesia Mulls Blocking Bigo Live and Telegram Over Porn and Gambling Allegations