Telegram issues official statement on Pavel Durov detention

The Telegram messaging platform has issued what appears to be its first official statement concerning the detention of its CEO, Pavel Durov.

Durov’s status remains unclear as French authorities have so far reportedly refused to cooperate with the Russian embassy. As Cointelegraph previously reported, authorities in Paris are scheduled to give an official statement on Monday, Aug. 26.

Telegram’s official statement was posted on Aug. 25 at approximately 12:00PM PST, via the platform’s Telegram News channel. The company expressed its full-throated support for its CEO and wishes for a quick resolution to the situation.

Here is the message in its entirety:

"Telegram abides by EU laws, including the Digital Services Act — its moderation is within industry standards and constantly improving. Telegram's CEO Pavel Durov has nothing to hide and travels frequently in Europe. It is absurd to claim that a platform or its owner are responsible for abuse of that platform. Almost a billion users globally use Telegram as means of communication and as a source of vital information. We’re awaiting a prompt resolution of this situation. Telegram is with you all."

It remains unclear at this time what exactly Durov has been charged with — or if he's even been placed under arrest. Various reports have indicated that he may have been arrested on charges related to the supposed lack of moderation on the Telegram platform, but facts remain scarce in lieu of official confirmation from the French government or further explanation from Telegram.