Russia sends note to France demanding consular access to Telegram CEO  

Spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova has announced that Russia sent an official note to the French authorities requesting access to Telegram messenger CEO Pavel Durov. 

 “Russia’s embassy in Paris has referred a note to the French foreign ministry demanding consular access to Durov who has been arrested in France,” she said in an interview with the Rossiya-24 television channel, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

"Immediately after learning about his arrest, our embassy in Paris got in touch with the local side having sent a note to the French foreign ministry demanding access to him," she added.

"The problem is that Pavel Dorov holds French citizenship. Russia views this issue as significant and in need of urgent resolution. However, Paris insists that Durov's French citizenship should be prioritized in this situation, complicating the access Russian representatives have to him,” she noted.  

Zakharova emphasised that Moscow is adamant about its rights and expects the French authorities to fulfill their international obligations regarding the protection of its citizens' interests and the resolution of such issues. 

She stated that Russia hopes for a prompt resolution of the issue and anticipates a constructive response from the French authorities. 

The LCI television channel reported earlier that Durov was arrested at Le Bourget Airport late on August 24. He has been placed in custody and may soon be brought to court. Durov might be charged with terrorism, drug trafficking, fraud, money laundering and child pornography. The Russian embassy in Paris said it had demanded that the French authorities observe Durov’s rights but Paris is dodging cooperation on this matter.