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[Text/Guardian Network Liu Chenghui] Pavel Durov, the founder of the social media "Telegram", was arrested in France on the evening of the 24th local time. Russian Federation Security Council Deputy Chairman Medvedev said on the 25th that Durov's decision to leave Russia was a mistake. He thought he could live well away from his motherland. Now, it is time for him to realize that his motherland, like the times, is not something he can choose.

"I asked Durov a long time ago why he was unwilling to cooperate with law enforcement agencies in the case of serious crimes. He replied at the time, 'This is my principled position.' But I told him, 'This will cause serious problems in any country.'" Medvedev wrote on Telegram.

"He thought his biggest problem was being in Russia, so he left and then got citizenship or a residence permit in another country. He wanted to be a great 'world citizen' who could live well without a motherland. As the Latin proverb says: Ubi bene ibi patria! Wherever you live well, that is your motherland."

"But he miscalculated. To all the enemies we now face together, he is Russian, and therefore unpredictable and dangerous, and he has a different blood."

“He’s not Musk, and he’s not Zuckerberg (who, by the way, are actively cooperating with the FBI).”

"Durov should finally understand that the motherland, like the times, is not something that can be chosen..." Medvedev wrote.

Durov, 39, founded the well-known Russian social networking site Vkontakte in 2006 and the instant messaging software "Telegram" in 2013. Today, "Telegram" is one of the most important social platforms used by users in Russia, Ukraine and other former Soviet republics. As of July this year, the number of monthly active users on the platform has reached 950 million.

Durov left Russia in 2014 and has lived in the UAE most of the time. He currently holds citizenship of Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, France and the UAE. Forbes magazine estimates that Durov's assets are about $15.5 billion.

According to a report by French TV 1 (FT1) on August 24, Durov was arrested in France that evening and may face multiple charges including terrorism, drug trafficking, money laundering, fraud, etc. The French government believes that lax audit rules and encryption technology have led to criminals widely using the Telegram platform to engage in illegal activities.

On the 25th, Russian State Duma Deputy Chairman Davankov called on the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to try to rescue Durov. He said he had sent a corresponding request to Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the Russian Embassy in France has taken necessary measures to understand Durov's situation.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zakharova said that the Russian Embassy in France immediately started relevant work after learning about the arrest of Russian citizens.

Zakharova posted a screenshot, saying that in 2018, 26 non-governmental organizations condemned the Russian court's decision to block Telegram. The picture included "all relevant Western organizations that expressed support at the time, including those that made collective appeals." "What do you think? Will they call on Paris to release Durov this time, or will they remain silent?"

On the same day, the press office of the Russian Embassy in France told the Russian Satellite News Agency that the embassy had asked the French government to explain the reasons for Durov's arrest, but the French government temporarily refused to cooperate on this issue.

"After the news of Pavel Durov's arrest appeared in the media, the embassy immediately asked the French government to explain the reasons, protect Durov's rights and provide consular services. At present, it seems that the French side temporarily refuses to cooperate on this issue."

The Russian embassy also pointed out that they are in contact with Durov's lawyer.

Regarding Durov's arrest, Musk, the owner of the X platform and CEO of Tesla, posted several articles in a row, satirizing the lack of freedom of speech in Europe and demanding the release of Durov. He wrote in French: "Freedom. Freedom! Freedom?"

This article is an exclusive article of Observer.com and may not be reproduced without authorization.