Macron denies arrest of Telegram founder in France is ‘political’

“It is in no way a political decision. It is up to the judges to decide,” he wrote in a highly unusual commentary on a legal case.

Durov, 39, has a French passport in addition to his Russian nationality.

– ‘Nothing to hide’ –

An investigating judge extended Durov’s detention on Sunday, a source close to the investigation said. The initial detention for questioning could last up to 96 hours.

When this period expires, the magistrate can release Durov or charge him and remand him in custody.

Durov, who has lived in Dubai in recent years, arrived in Paris from the Azerbaijani capital Baku and planned to dine in the French capital, a source close to the matter said.

He was accompanied by a bodyguard and a personal assistant who always travel with him, said the source, who asked to remain anonymous.

A key question is why Durov flew to France, when he probably knew he was wanted in the country. “Maybe he had a sense of impunity,” said a source close to the case, who asked not to be named.

Russian President Vladimir Putin was in Baku on August 18-19 for a state visit to Azerbaijan, but Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied the two had met.

Durov is accused of failing to take measures to tackle criminal use of his platform.

France’s OFMIN, an agency charged with preventing violence against minors, has issued an arrest warrant for Durov in a preliminary investigation into alleged crimes including fraud, drug trafficking, cyberbullying, organized crime and promoting terrorism, another source said.