PANews reported on August 28 that according to a report by the French newspaper Canard Chain de l'Elysée, sources said that Telegram CEO Pavel Durov told the police that he was supposed to have dinner with French President Macron on the day of his arrest. Paris officials denied the news.
French politician Florian Philippot expressed doubts about Macron's statement and said on social media X that it is entirely possible that the president carried out such deception to fulfill his "master's mission." He also asked Macron to explain this.
Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Russia's request for Durov to visit France was under review.
