μ-Note: Pavel Durov and His View of France
Pavel Durov knows how to curry favor with the French judiciary. The Times of India published "French Police Raid France Offices of Elon Musk's X, Telegram CEO Pavel Durov Says: 'France Is the Only Country in the World That'." Click here for the source document The article contains a quotation attributed to the founder of Telegram and the self-described GOAT of Russian technology; to wit:
[The] French police is currently raiding X's office in Paris. Rance is the only country in the world that is criminally persecuting all social networks that give eople some degree of freedom...Don't be mistaken. This is not a free country."
Some context: Mr. Durov was arrested, charged, and placed under judiciary supervision. He is a French citizen. His arrest was conducted by the judiciary unit headed by M. Brousse, the same official who shut down a "dark mobile phone" and handles most cyber crime prosecutions. Mr. Durov must check in with M. Brousse's unit and request permission to leave France. The French legal processes are complex compared to some countries. In general, the amount of time to move from arrest to resolution can be difficult to predict. Mr. Durov's trial is likely to take place sometime in 2026 or early 2027. Some French officials are not impressed with overt criticism of their approach or accusations critical of France. Since Mr. Durov's arrest in August 2024, the TONcoin value has declined by double digits. Telegram has watched as two different types of TONcoin-related financial firms were created. Neither of these is performing at what might be called a high level.
Mr. Durov, however, continues to express his views of France and French methods. If France were a dictatorship-type country, such negative remarks might not be possible. Are such comments about a country whose judiciary has leveled more than a dozen criminal charges against a high-profile individual an optimal legal tactic? My thought is, "Silence and cooperative behavior might be a preferred path.
Stephen E Arnold, February 3, 2026