Telegram founder Durov speaks on being held in France: ‘I feel confused’

• Pavel Durov was arrested in France and faces six major charges.
• He says Telegram follows laws and the arrest was unexpected.
• Over 9 million users backed Durov, calling the move political.

Telegram Founder Baffled by French Arrest

Telegram Founder Pavel Durov, opened up about his confusing arrest in France last August during a chat with Tucker Carlson on June 9, 2025.

It was his first time speaking out since getting detained at Le Bourget Airport near Paris. He told Carlson that French authorities seemed obsessed with figuring out how Telegram works, even though the company’s legit, audited by a top accounting firm, and spends millions every quarter to stay on the right side of laws in nearly 200 countries.

With a billion monthly users, Telegram’s a big deal, and Durov’s scratching his head over why he was targeted.

When Pavel Durov landed in Paris last August, he didn’t expect to be arrested.

But that’s exactly what happened.

The Telegram founder was taken into custody by French customs police and placed into solitary confinement—without explanation.

Speaking out for the first time… pic.twitter.com/mfj7apfCKW

— The Vigilant Fox 🦊 (@VigilantFox) June 9, 2025

French prosecutors hit Durov with six charges, like helping with criminal activity, money laundering, and letting shady content spread because of Telegram’s light moderation.

They said he could face up to 10 years in jail. But Durov insists Telegram didn’t mess up, saying the authorities didn’t follow proper steps when asking for info.

He’s still stuck in France under judicial control, and he admitted to Carlson, “I’m still trying to figure out why. I’m confused.”

Carlson Slams Humiliation Move

Carlson didn’t hold back, calling Durov’s arrest a deliberate attempt to embarrass him. He pointed out that the prosecutor’s office, which usually keeps things quiet, made a big public fuss this time.

Durov nodded, saying his lawyers called the whole thing unheard of. Carlson wondered why free speech advocates didn’t speak up, but the TON Community noted that over 9 million Telegram users signed a letter pushing for Durov’s release, showing the platform’s got a loyal crowd.

This was Durov’s first big interview since he briefly spoke out in September 2024, hinting Telegram might ditch countries that don’t vibe with its free speech stance. With Telegram hitting a billion monthly users by March, it’s a major player.

Durov’s still dealing with movement restrictions and unanswered questions, leaving many wondering if France’s move was more about politics than law.

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