Telegram team releases first statement after Pavel Durov's arrest

The Telegram team has released the first official statement regarding the arrest of the platform's founder Pavel Durov in Paris.

"Telegram complies with EU laws, including the Digital Services Act - its moderation is in line with industry standards and is constantly being improved.

Telegram CEO Pavel Durov has nothing to hide and travels frequently throughout Europe. It is absurd to claim that the platform or its owner are responsible for abuses on the platform.

Nearly a billion users worldwide use Telegram as a means of communication and a source of important information.

We look forward to a speedy resolution to this situation. Telegram remains with you all," the statement published on the company's Telegram channel reads.

Recall that billionaire Pavel Durov, who has French citizenship, was arrested on the evening of August 24 at the Paris airport. He is suspected of involvement in crimes related to terrorism, fraud, drug trafficking and child pornography - due to the fact that the Telegram platform refused to cooperate with law enforcement agencies and moderate content.

The news of Durov's arrest caused a huge public outcry around the world: Elon Musk, Edward Snowden, Tucker Carlson and many Russian media personalities, politicians and celebrities spoke out in support of Durov. Durov's arrest has already been called an attack on freedom of speech.

There have been no official comments from the French authorities on Durov's arrest yet: the Paris prosecutor's office is expected to make a public statement on the matter tomorrow.