Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, was arrested on August 24 at Le Bourget airport in Paris. He is suspected of illegal activities including enabling drug trafficking, crimes against minors, and fraud. His arrest has been met with shock around the world, especially in countries where censorship and internet control remain pressing.
According to various sources, the French authorities suspect Durov of being involved in activities related to the distribution of illegal content through the Telegram messenger. The investigation concerns materials related to extremism, copyright infringement, and alleged assistance to criminal groups. The investigation lasted several months.
In response, Telegram said that it has always strictly complied with the law, and is ready to cooperate with French authorities to clarify the situation, expressing hope for a fair investigation and Durov’s speedy release.
In Kazakhstan, where Durov has long been known for his stance against censorship, his arrest has not gone unnoticed. The Minister of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry, Zhaslan Madiev, made a statement that said: “We had a positive experience interacting with the Telegram team. We have often successfully and promptly resolved issues related to the leakage of personal data, the fight against drug trafficking, and the suppression of other illegal activities in the messenger. The Telegram team has always demonstrated a willingness to cooperate to ensure the safety of citizens while remaining true to its principles of protecting privacy and freedom of speech.”
He also noted that on his last visit to Kazakhstan, Pavel Durov became one of the trustees of the IQanat project, which aims to support rural children in Kazakhstan. The project has awarded 12 grants worth $365,000.
Madiev continued: “He did not just allocate money but personally participated in studying the educational process, selecting children, familiarizing himself with their lives. I am grateful to Pavel’s team for caring, and his sincere interest in the development of the children. We hope for a speedy resolution of this situation.”
The Union of Journalists of Kazakhstan also expressed support for Durov, calling on the French authorities to ensure respect for his fundamental rights and freedoms, and to conduct an objective investigation into the case.
“The detention of Telegram founder Pavel Durov has caused concern among all those who fight for freedom, democracy, and the principles of free speech. It is important to take into account that in several countries where officially registered independent democratic media regularly face persecution or cease to exist at all, where blocking of websites is regularly practiced, Telegram, created by Pavel Durov, is currently almost the only source of bringing to the public objective and reliable information free from censorship,” the statement said.
The Union of Journalists of Kazakhstan recalled that in 2018, Pavel Durov received an award from the Union of Journalists of Kazakhstan, precisely for his principled position against censorship. His arrest could negatively affect freedom of speech and human rights in developing countries with fragile democracies.
The response in Kyrgyzstan was more restrained than that of the Kazakhstani authorities. None of the government agencies commented on Durov’s detention in France.
Durov visited Kyrgyzstan in June this year – where there was significant excitement in his potential investment in a large-scale project – later writing: “I was delighted with the people and nature of Kyrgyzstan, a real hidden gem in Central Asia. The weather was great, and there were no mosquitoes, so we did a lot of hiking, horseback riding in the mountains, and walking around Lake Issyk-Kul. I noticed that Kyrgyzstan is developing very fast and creating valuable infrastructure all over the country,” Durov wrote.
Kyrgyz political analyst Bakyt Baketaev told The Times of Central Asia that Durov’s arrest shocked many politicians worldwide. “In Telegram, you can find the whole palette of worldviews. This is very important for analyzing the situation in the global space. After the arrest of Pavel Durov, of course, confidence in Telegram will decrease. Who will guarantee he will not be forced to change his editorial policy in prison? Who will guarantee that there will be no manipulation of the information that goes into the messenger?” Baketaev stated.
