On August 24th, 2024 Pavel Durov was arrested at Le Bourget Airport in France. Known for his commitment to free speech and an advocate for privacy, Pavlov has resisted government pressure from multiple governments including his home country of Russia.

The arrest was linked to allegations with respect to Telegram’s role in facilitating criminal activities, including terrorism and drug trafficking, among other serious crimes. The arrest has sparked a global debate on the implications for privacy, encryption, and free speech.

Timeline of Pavel Durov’s Arrest

• August 24: Durov was detained by the French authorities upon his arrival from Azerbaijan in his private plane. The arrest was carried out under an official warrant issued by French authorities claimed to be under an ongoing investigation by the National Anti-Fraud Office.
• August 25: News of the arrest spreads rapidly, with many people coming out in support of Durov. The crypto market, particularly the TON ecosystem with the likes of Toncoin and Notcoin, fell significantly in value, losing over 20% of its market cap. Telegram and its community issued statements where they emphasized their compliance with EU laws, dismissing the charges against Durov as unwarranted.
• Ongoing Developments: The French authorities have yet to provide transparency on the specific charges, while the Russian Embassy in France has demanded explanations. Many high-ranking Russian officials claim that the USA might be behind Durov’s arrest.

Community and Public Reaction

The arrest has garnered interest not only from the tech/crypto community but free speech advocates around the world. Almost unanimously, the actions of the French officials have been looked down upon. The outrage is around concerns about the future of secure communications and decentralized platforms.

The crypto community has always viewed Telegram as a bastion of privacy and free speech. Most crypto projects have Telegram communities and it comes as no surprise that they reacted strongly to Durov’s arrest. The attack on Durov was seen as an attack on broader principles of user autonomy and decentralization, which are the pillars of the crypto movement.

1-hour candle of NOT Source- sosovalue

The fall in prices of Toncoin and Notcoin showed fears surrounding the potential future of Telegram’s blockchain-related projects. The prices of both projects fell sharply for around 10 hours before the bulls “caught the falling knife.”

1-hour candle of TON Source- sosovalue

Public reaction

Apart from the crypto community, the general public has also expressed significant concern about the implications of Durov’s arrest. Telegram is one of the most commonly used messaging apps in the world with more than 950 million monthly active users. The notion that a platform’s founder could be held responsible for the actions of its users raises troubling questions about the future of digital privacy.

The narrative is that governments may increasingly target platforms that refuse to comply with demands for backdoor access or compromise user privacy. Social media platforms have been flooded with posts with hashtags like #FreePavelDurov and #StandWithTelegram trending on platforms like X.

If you suddenly notice your entire X timeline filled with avatars of the Resistance Dog and are wondering why, we are here to clarify. But afterward, make sure you join the #DigitalResistance.

The Telegram Dictionary explains the significance of the Digital Resistance Dog as… https://t.co/UtS0QAduEH pic.twitter.com/COWZ6KMpzI

— Ton Trading Bot (@TonTradingBot) August 26, 2024

Not only social media but there have been protests in the real world also, most notably in front of the French Embassy in Moscow. Other protests in support of Pavel Durov have taken place in France, Armenia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Poland, and Vietnam. The arrest also drew the attention of numerous high-profile figures from the crypto, tech, and political world.

Elon Musk stayed true to his advocacy of free speech and government overreach and criticized french authority’s actions.

pic.twitter.com/Q0Og7KkWES

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 25, 2024

Chris Pavlovski, CEO of Rumble, another platform with a USP of free speech, said he’s going to depart from the EU while highlighting that they are already fighting legal battles in France. Tucker Carlson, who recently interviewed the Telegram founder, framed the arrest as a warning to all platform owners.

RFK Jr., a popular presidential candidate for the US election, condemned the arrest as an attack on free speech and emphasized its urgency. Edward Snowden highlighted the arrest as a continuation of government efforts to control digital communication.

Justin Sun, the founder of TRON, has pledged $1 million to support the creation of a DAO advocating for Pavel Durov’s release.

We should show the cryptocurrency industry’s unity by organizing a #FreePavel DAO to help Telegram founder Pavel Durov legally gain freedom. I’ll donate $1 million if it’s created in a decentralized way with enough community support. @elonmusk @MarioNawfal

— H.E. Justin Sun 孙宇晨(hiring) (@justinsuntron) August 25, 2024

Vitalik Buterin, who has previously been critical of Telegram’s encryption standards, expressed concern over the implications for software and communication freedom in Europe.

I’ve criticized Telegram before for not being serious with encryption.

But (given the info available so far: the charge seems to be just being “unmoderated” and not giving up people’s data), this looks very bad and worrying for the future of software and comms freedom in Europe.

— vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) August 25, 2024

While the EU has championed itself as a defender of human rights and free expression, the actions taken against Durov paint a very different picture—a picture of a platform being singled out and punished. Telegram has publicly stated its compliance with EU regulations, including the Digital Services Act.

By targeting Telegram, the EU is sending a clear message to other tech companies: compliance is not enough; they must also align with governmental expectations, even at the expense of user rights.