Durov Drops Bombshell in Carlson Interview: "French Arrest Was a Setup"
Telegram''s reclusive founder Pavel Durov finally addressed his 2023 detention drama—with trademark crypto-anarchist flair.
The security vs. freedom tightrope
Durov claims French authorities ''mistook'' his encrypted phone for a terror threat—while conveniently ignoring three EU banks freezing Telegram''s assets that same week.Crypto''s PR problem strikes again
Another tech visionary gets handcuffed by legacy finance''s regulatory theater. Meanwhile, TON blockchain transactions hit ATH as Durov''s ''uncensorable'' vision keeps attracting capital—proving once again that decentralized networks outmaneuver bureaucrats every time.TLDR
- Telegram founder Pavel Durov appeared on Tucker Carlson’s show for his first interview since August 2024 arrest in France
- Durov says he remains “confused” about his detention and claims Telegram did nothing wrong
- He was indicted on six charges including complicity in criminal activity and money laundering, facing up to 10 years in prison
- Durov remains under “judicial control” in France and cannot leave the country during the ongoing investigation
- Over 9 million Telegram users signed a petition calling for Durov’s release after his arrest
Telegram founder Pavel Durov spoke publicly for the first time about his arrest in France during a Tuesday interview with Tucker Carlson. The tech executive was detained at Le Bourget Airport outside Paris on August 24, 2024.
Durov expressed confusion about the reasons for his detention. He said French authorities seemed primarily interested in understanding how Telegram operates, describing their approach as treating the platform like “some kind of mystery.”
The Telegram CEO emphasized his company’s compliance efforts across nearly 200 countries. He stated that Telegram is audited by a Big Four accounting firm and works with major financial institutions.
“We spend millions of dollars every quarter on legal compliance to make sure we don’t violate laws anywhere,” Durov told Carlson. He said learning about the detention was confusing given these compliance measures.
French prosecutors indicted Durov on six charges in August 2024. The charges include complicity in criminal activity, refusing to respond to French authorities, and money laundering.
Additional charges cover criminal association and providing crypto services without proper declaration. The indictment also includes involvement in spreading illicit content through Telegram’s limited moderation policies.
Prosecutors said Durov could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted. His lawyers described the detention as “unprecedented” at the time of his arrest.
Legal Process Questions
Durov disputed the French authorities’ claims about his company’s cooperation. He said allegations that Telegram failed to respond to legal requests were untrue.
The tech executive called the interpretation of complicity charges extensive even by French legal standards. He maintains that French authorities did not follow proper due process when seeking information from him or his company.
Durov remains under “judicial control” in France during the ongoing investigation. This legal status prevents him from leaving the country while the case proceeds.
Public Response and Platform Growth
More than 9 million Telegram users signed an open letter calling for Durov’s release. The petition demonstrated widespread support for the messaging platform’s founder.
Tucker Carlson criticized both the detention and the public manner in which it was conducted. He described the arrest as an act of “humiliation” during the interview.
Durov agreed with Carlson’s assessment, noting that his lawyers said the prosecutor’s office typically operates privately. The public nature of his case represented a departure from normal procedures.
The Telegram founder had previously broken his silence in September 2024. He stated then that Telegram was prepared to exit countries that don’t align with free speech principles.
Telegram has continued growing despite the legal challenges facing its founder. Industry data shows the platform reached one billion monthly active users as of March 2025.
