Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, has made his first public statement following his arrest in France this past August.
The entrepreneur expressed criticism of the decision to charge him personally rather than targeting the company itself.
Durov, who holds French citizenship, said the arrest was "surprising," explaining that Telegram has a legal representative in the European Union to handle all regulatory matters. He further questioned why law enforcement was used in this case when he could have easily been contacted, pointing out that he has been a frequent visitor to the French Consulate in Dubai.
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In his statement, the Telegram founder indicated that his company remains dedicated to its mission of supporting free speech, adding:
We are prepared to leave markets that aren't compatible with our principles, because we are not doing this for money. We are driven by the intention to bring good and defend the basic rights of people, particularly in places where these rights are violated.
Shortly after Durov's arrest, French President Emmanuel Macron addressed the situation, claiming that the arrest was not politically driven.
However, this statement did little to quell the backlash against the French government. Critics, including industry leaders and the TON Society, accused France of suppressing free speech and called for Durov's release.
The arrest and subsequent reaction have intensified the debate on the balance between free speech, regulatory laws, and the treatment of tech companies in various jurisdictions.
