Kremlin Doesn't Know Allegations Against Pavel Durov Yet, Russian Embassy Will Ensure Its Rights Are Fulfilled

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. (Wikimedia Commons/Kremlin.ru)

JAKARTA - The Kremlin does not yet know the exact charges imposed on one of the founders of the messaging application Pavel Durov, with the Russian Embassy trying to fulfill their rights.

Durov, who holds a French passport, was detained at Le Bourget Airport on the outskirts of Paris on the night of August 24, with a number of charges charged against him, French media reported. Durov's detention occurred when he was about to leave a private plane suspected of arriving from Azerbaijan.

"We don't really know what Durov is accused of," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a news conference.

"What exactly are they trying to incriminate Durov? Without (knowledge), it might be wrong to make any statements," he continued.

Meanwhile, Paris Prosecutor Laure Beccuau said Durov was arrested as part of an investigation into an unnamed person launched by the office's cybercrime unit on July 8.

The investigation is related to alleged involvement in various crimes including running an online platform that allows illicit transactions, child pornography, drug trafficking, and fraud, as well as refusal to convey information to authorities, money laundering and the provision of cryptographic services to criminals, the statement said.

The Russian Embassy in France told TASS they would seek to protect Durov's rights and ensure he had access to consular services, but "the French side has so far refused to cooperate on this matter."

Earlier, French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed France's commitment to freedom of expression and communication, after Pavel Durov's arrest, said it was not politically related.

"France is very committed to freedom of expression and communication, in innovation and in the spirit of entrepreneurship," he said.

"In a country governed by legal rules, freedom is enforced within the legal framework, both on social media and in real life, to protect citizens and respect their basic rights," he added.