UAE closely follows Telegram CEO's arrest & detention in France

Abu Dhabi: Since the arrested Telegram messaging app was found and CEO Pavel Druvov is a United Arab Emirates citizen, Abu Dhabi is closely following his case. This includes the French authority extending Pavel’s detention, Al Jazeera reported.

Born in Russia, the 39-year-old Pavel was arrested on Saturday at the Paris-Le Bourget Airport in France over alleged criminal violations involving his app, as per the Paris prosecutor’s office’s statement. Pavel was arrested on the basis of a judicial inquiry initiated last month, which found 12 alleged criminal violations.

UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that it has demanded the French government to urgently provide Pavel all consular services.

The statement read, “Caring for citizens, preserving their interests, following up on their affairs, and providing them with all aspects of care is a top priority for the UAE,” as quoted by Al Jazeera.

Pavel holds citizenship in the UAE, France, Russia, and the Caribbean island nation of St Kitts and Nevis.

French Emmanuel Macron claimed on Monday that Pavel’s arrest was not a political move but a result of an independent investigation. He said on social media that France is deeply committed to freedom of expression, but the same is upheld within a framework, whether it is on social media or in real life. The restriction is there to protect citizens and respect their fundamental rights.

A UAE citizen, Pavel, gets arrested by France when both countries are maintaining a close military relationship, with the French operating a naval base in Abu Dhabi and UAE using French-built Leclerc tanks and Rafale fighter jets.

Meanwhile, Russia expressed outrage at Pavel’s detention and called it politically motivated. It also alleged that the arrest shows the West’s double standard on freedom of speech.