UAE demands consular access after Telegram founder arrest in France

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has requested consular access to Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, following his arrest in France on charges related to organized crime.

The UAE's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on Tuesday, expressing concern over the detention of Durov, who has been residing in Dubai. The ministry emphasized the need for urgent consular services to be provided to Durov, who was arrested at Paris-Le Bourget Airport on Sunday evening.

Durov, a billionaire entrepreneur aged 39, is accused of failing to take action against the spread of illegal content on Telegram, a messaging platform with over 900 million users.

Telegram has strongly denied these allegations. French President Emmanuel Macron stated on Monday that there was no "political decision" involved in the arrest of the internet magnate, whose detention has been extended until Wednesday.

Durov, who founded Telegram after leaving Russia a decade ago, holds dual citizenship in the UAE and France, in addition to his Russian nationality, according to Telegram. His wealth is estimated by Forbes to be around $15.5 billion.

The Kremlin, through spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, has also expressed concern over the arrest and requested consular access. Moscow has reportedly not received any information from France regarding the reasons for Durov's detention. 

Telegram responded to the incident on its channel, stating, "Pavel Durov has nothing to hide and frequently travels to Europe." The company further defended its founder, arguing, "It is absurd to suggest that a platform or its owner is responsible for the abuses committed on the platform."

The case has sparked significant attention due to Durov's high profile and the implications for free speech and platform responsibility in the digital age.