Telegram says it complies with EU laws and that Pavel Durov has nothing to hide

Encrypted messaging network Telegram has condemned the recent arrest in France of its founder Pavel Durov, saying that the platform “complies with European Union laws” and that the French-Russian billionaire “has nothing to hide.”

In a statement, Dubai-based Telegram also called it “absurd to claim that a platform or its owner is responsible for the abuse of that platform,” and noted that “nearly a billion users around the world use Telegram as a means of communication and as a source of vital information.”

Durov, 39, was arrested on Saturday evening as he disembarked from Azerbaijan on the runway at Paris-Le Bourget airport.

He was the subject of a French arrest warrant issued by the Office for Minors (OFMIN) of the National Directorate of Criminal Investigation on the basis of a preliminary investigation.

French courts say Telegram’s lack of moderation and Durov’s failure to cooperate with authorities, coupled with the platform’s tools such as disposable numbers and encryption, make him complicit in crimes such as drug trafficking, paedophilia and fraud.

The company insists that “Telegram CEO Pavel Durov has nothing to hide and frequently travels around Europe,” while stressing: “We are awaiting a prompt resolution of this situation. Telegram is with you all.”