Did Macron Set Up Telegram Founder Durov? Controversial Arrest Sparks Debate

Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov was reportedly set to have dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron on the evening he was arrested, French investigative newspaper Le Canard Enchaine reported.

Telegram founder Pavel Durov was reportedly set to dine with French President Emmanuel Macron on the day he was arrested, sparking controversy.

French authorities detained Durov, and reports indicate that he had informed them about the planned meeting. The allegations led to a political backlash, with accusations against Macron for stifling free speech.

Telegram Founder Claims Macron Invited Him to Dinner Before Arrest

Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov was reportedly set to have dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron on the evening he was arrested, French investigative newspaper Le Canard Enchaine reported.

Durov, who was arrested by French authorities on Saturday, allegedly informed the police about this scheduled meeting with Macron.

The report has stirred significant controversy and prompted various political reactions. Florian Philippot, leader of Les Patriots Party, expressed his outrage over the alleged incident. He shared his views on social media platform X, as translated by Google:

Macron is perfectly capable of this kind of trickery, in order to fulfill the mission demanded by his masters: to put in jail all those who defend freedom of expression! We demand explanations from Macron!

The allegations have fueled widespread outrage on social media, with many users speculating that Macron may have set Durov up to undermine freedom of speech.

In response to these claims, the Elysee Palace quickly denied that such a dinner was ever planned.

Before reports emerged of Durov claiming that Macron had invited him to dinner, Macron addressed the arrest of the Telegram founder directly on social media on Monday.

“I have seen false information regarding France following the arrest of Pavel Durov,” the French president wrote on X.

“France is deeply committed to freedom of expression and communication, to innovation, and to the spirit of entrepreneurship,” Macron stated. “It will remain so. In a state governed by the rule of law, freedoms are upheld within a legal framework, both on social media and in real life, to protect citizens and respect their fundamental rights. It is up to the judiciary, in full independence, to enforce the law.” Macron further claimed: “The arrest of the president of Telegram on French soil took place as part of an ongoing judicial investigation. It is in no way a political decision. It is up to the judges to rule on the matter.”

What do you think about the controversy surrounding Telegram founder Pavel Durov’s arrest and the alleged dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron? Let us know in the comments section below.

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