French court bars Telegram founder from attending Oslo Freedom Forum

A French court has denied Telegram founder Pavel Durov’s request to travel to Norway to speak at the Oslo Freedom Forum on May 26, despite prior travel permissions and plans for his participation in discussions on free speech, surveillance, and digital rights.

Durov, who was invited to speak at the event hosted annually by the Human Rights Foundation (HRF), will now address the forum virtually. HRF founder and CEO Thor Halvorssen criticised the decision, calling it “a setback for freedom,” Caliber.Az reports via the statement shared by HRF. 

“It is unfortunate that French courts would block Mr. Durov from participating in an event where his voice is so needed…Technologies like Telegram are basic tools for those resisting tyranny. This is more than a disappointment for our community; it is a setback for freedom,” Halvorssen said. 

Durov was arrested by French authorities in August 2024 over alleged criminal activity facilitated via Telegram. While he is not personally accused of any crimes, prosecutors claim he holds legal responsibility for how others use the platform. He has since been released on bail pending the outcome of the case.

The court’s decision comes as a surprise, given that Durov was previously allowed to leave France. In addition to his keynote address, he had planned to meet with human rights defenders from authoritarian regimes to explore how Telegram could better support their work.

Meanwhile, Durov posted on X accusing Nicolas Lerner, head of France’s foreign intelligence agency, of pressuring him to silence conservative voices on Telegram ahead of Romania’s elections. 

Durov claimed Lerner visited Romania just two days before the vote and linked the visit to comments made by Valérie Hayer, a key French political figure, promising to ensure the election of a pro-European Romanian president.

“‘We will do everything on the ground to ensure that the next Romanian president is pro-European,’ said Macron’s closest ally and key party member Valérie Hayer to France Info on May 10, 2025. So what did the head of French intelligence do in Romania a few days after this promise?” Durov questioned on X. 

Romania’s nationalist opposition party, the Alliance for the Union of Romanians, has called on parliamentary commissions to investigate the motives behind Nicolas Lerner’s visit.

By Sabina Mammadli