Vyacheslav Volodin, the Speaker of Russia's State Duma and a close ally of President Vladimir Putin, has alleged that the United States is behind the recent arrest of Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of the messaging platform Telegram.
Biden Wants to Gain Control
According to Digi24 Durov was taken into custody in France over the weekend as part of an investigation into serious allegations involving child pornography, drug trafficking, and fraudulent transactions on the platform, according to French prosecutors.
Volodin made these claims during a recent statement, asserting without providing evidence that the U.S. government, using France as a conduit, is attempting to exert control over Telegram.
"Telegram is one of the few and largest internet platforms that the U.S. does not influence," Volodin stated.
He underscored the importance of President Joe Biden gaining control over Telegram as the 2024 presidential elections approach.
Not a Political Decision
The White House has yet to comment on Durov's arrest, while French President Emmanuel Macron has stated that the arrest "is not in any way a political decision." The Kremlin also announced it is awaiting formal charges from French prosecutors against Durov.
Founded in Dubai, Telegram boasts nearly one billion users and has become especially influential in Russia, Ukraine, and the former Soviet republics.
Since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Telegram has emerged as a key platform for unfiltered content related to the conflict. It has been described by analysts as a "virtual battleground," heavily utilized by both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian government officials.
