RT-Engels: 25-08-2024,
Demonstrators have placed hundreds of paper airplanes in front of the diplomatic mission in support of Telegram’s detained founder
Hundreds of paper planes symbolizing the logo of Telegram have been brought by Pavel Durov’s supporters to the French embassy in Moscow in a demonstration of support for the messaging platform’s CEO in response to his detention in Paris.
The Russian entrepreneur, who is also a citizen of France, the UAE, and Saint Kitts and Nevis, was taken into custody at Paris-Le Bourget Airport on Saturday and is set to appear in court on Sunday evening, according to French media. The country’s authorities had reportedly issued an arrest warrant for Durov, arguing that insufficient moderation allows for Telegram to be widely used by criminals.
On Sunday, Durov’s supporters gathered near the French embassy and covered the shrubs around it with paper airplanes. Deputy Speaker of the Russian State Duma Vladislav Davankov was among those who participated in the rally.
The top state official had previously demanded the immediate release of the social media platform’s founder, arguing that his “arrest could be politically motivated and used to gain access to the personal information of Telegram users.”
Durov’s detention has triggered a wave of indignation in Russia and abroad. US tech billionaire Elon Musk became one of the first globally known figures to react; he has launched the hashtag #FreePavel, and suggested that rising international pressure on freedom of speech could worsen.