Member of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs Dmitry Belik commented on the arrest of Telegram co-founder Pavel Durov at the Paris airport, the RT website reports.
The parliamentarian noted that Pavel Durov is a prominent figure, so his detention was a clear step in the encroachment on freedom of speech in the West.
According to the politician, by attempting to establish control over the messenger, Macron wants to distract attention from domestic political problems.
“What happened confirms that media personalities of this level are not only not untouchable, but are even more vulnerable, since the West then turns them into an instrument of its manipulation,” Belik concluded.
Recall that Pavel Durov was detained on the evening of August 24 at the Paris airport. The businessman is accused of participating in drug trafficking, crimes against children and fraud due to poor moderation in Telegram and refusal to cooperate with law enforcement agencies.
Pavel Durov is currently in custody. He may be brought to court in the near future. The Russian Foreign Ministry reported that the Russian Embassy in France has taken the necessary steps to clarify the situation.