Macron explains why he granted French citizenship to Telegram owner Pavel Durov
French President Emmanuel Macron (photo: Getty Images)
French President Emmanuel Macron has taken full responsibility for granting French citizenship to Telegram CEO Pavel Durov, a Russian national, despite earlier statements from the presidential spokesperson attributing the decision to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reports Politico.
"I gave Mr. Durov French citizenship, who learned French, as I gave to Mr. [Evan] Spiegel, an American entrepreneur, as I gave citizenship to some athletes and artists, and I think this is something that is very good for our country and I will continue to do so," Macron said during a visit to Belgrade, Serbia.
Politico reports that on Monday, the French president's spokesperson informed him that the request for Durov's citizenship had been made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The ministry stated that it does not disclose individual citizenship procedures.
Official documents show that Durov received French citizenship in 2021. A Le Monde article last year highlighted the lack of transparency surrounding the issue.
Macron also dismissed reports that he had planned to meet with Durov.
"I did not call and was not planning on meeting with Mr. Durov, neither at the end of last week nor in the following days," Macron told reporters.
He also denied having prior knowledge of Durov's plans to travel to France before his arrest at Paris's Le Bourget Airport on Saturday evening upon arriving from Azerbaijan.
Durov was detained at Le Bourget Airport, just outside Paris, on the evening of August 24.
He faces charges including terrorism, drug trafficking, fraud, money laundering, selling stolen goods, and sexual crimes against children, as well as failing to moderate the service and cooperate with the investigation. Durov could face up to 20 years in prison.
Telegram has denied the allegations, stating that the company operates within the legal framework of the EU.
On August 29, Durov was released on a €5 million bail and is prohibited from leaving France while the investigation is ongoing. Additionally, he is required to check in with the police.
For details on Durov's arrest in France and the future of Telegram, read the article by RBC-Ukraine.
