Telegram CEO Pavel Durov Speaks Out on French Questioning

Nine months after his spectacular arrest at Le Bourget airport, the founder of Telegram gives his first televised interview to Tucker Carlson. Between misunderstanding and distrust, Pavel Durov strongly contests the French accusations. What is really behind this case that shook the tech world?

Pavel Durov of Telegram bares all

Pavel Durov does not mince his words. Facing Tucker Carlson on June 9, the founder of Telegram expresses his astonishment regarding his arrest on August 24, 2024. 

“To be honest, I am still looking for answers. I am lost“, he confides with disarming candor.

Durov, indicted on six charges including complicity in criminal activity and money laundering, demands complete transparency from his company. 

“We are a big company, we are audited by a Big Four accounting firm“, he emphasizes. Telegram spends millions of dollars each quarter on legal compliance to operate lawfully in nearly 200 countries.

This vehement defense contrasts with the image portrayed by the French prosecutors. Authorities accuse Telegram of facilitating illicit activities due to what they consider insufficient moderation. 

However, Durov asserts that the French investigators seemed mainly interested in the simple operation of his platform, “as if it were some kind of mystery“.

The founder also denounces an irregular procedure. According to him, French authorities never followed official channels to request information from Telegram. 

This accusation echoes recent statements from the platform, which claims that France was not correctly using the procedures of the European Digital Services Act.

An arrest with the look of a political staging

The most troubling aspect of this case lies in its media coverage. Tucker Carlson does not hesitate to qualify the arrest as a deliberate “act of humiliation.” This observation resonates strongly with Durov’s explanations concerning the communication from the French prosecutor’s office.

“Obviously, they did everything they could to humiliate you“, emphasizes the American journalist. Durov agrees, recalling that his lawyers confirmed the unusual publicity given to his case. 

Contrary to usual practices of the prosecutor’s office, which generally operates discreetly, the arrest of the founder of Telegram was the subject of numerous press releases.

This media strategy contrasts strongly with the massive support Durov enjoys. More than 9 million Telegram users have signed an open letter demanding his release, thus testifying to the international impact of this case. 

The TON community, the blockchain ecosystem associated with Telegram, even celebrated as a “victory for freedom of expression” the fact that Durov could leave France in March 2025.

The interview with Carlson marks a turning point in Durov’s communication. Since September 2024, the founder had already signaled his position: Telegram was ready to leave countries incompatible with its commitment to freedom of expression. 

This firm stance is confirmed today, as the platform recently threatened to leave France rather than accept the installation of “backdoors” in its encryption system.

A battle that goes beyond the French framework

This Durov case occurs within a broader context of tensions between digital platforms and European regulators. Telegram, which now has more than one billion monthly active users, represents a major strategic issue for Western authorities.

Recent developments show that the battle is far from over. France attempts to impose its vision of digital control, while Telegram defends its model based on privacy protection. 

This confrontation could create a decisive precedent for the future regulation of encrypted messaging in Europe.

In sum, as the Durov case continues to shake relations between tech and European regulators, Telegram takes on a new dimension. With $1.5 billion raised and a strategic agreement signed with Elon Musk’s AI, the platform establishes itself as a key player, combining political resistance and technological expansion on a global scale.