Durov’s arrest was not political, Macron says

French President Macron confirmed Durov’s arrest in an Aug. 26 post on the X social media platform.

In the post, Macron addressed the “false information” being spread on social media, which alleged that Durov’s arrest was politically motivated. It was in “no way a political decision,” said Macron.

Durov was arrested on Aug. 24 at an airport outside Paris, sparking rumors about his potential charges and enforcement actions against Telegram.

On Aug. 25, Telegram issued a statement expressing solidarity with its founder, adding that Durov had nothing to hide in his frequent trips throughout Europe.

On Aug. 26, Cointelegraph reported that French authorities could legally detain Durov until Aug. 28. In an Aug. 26 notice, French prosecutors said Durov was taken into custody as part of an investigation “against person unnamed.”