Zhaslan Madiyev, head of Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Digital Development, Innovations and Aerospace Industry, expressed his support for Telegram CEO Pavel Durov, who was detained at Paris’ Le Bourget airport on Saturday.
«I would like to express my support for Pavel Durov and the Telegram team in light of recent events. On Saturday, we learned of Pavel’s detention by French authorities on charges related to the lack of content moderation and refusal to cooperate with law enforcement,» Madiyev wrote on Facebook.
As the official noted, the ministry has had a positive experience working with the Telegram team. Jointly, the parties have successfully and promptly addressed issues such as personal data leaks, countering drug trafficking and suppressing other illegal activities on the platform.
«The Telegram team has always demonstrated a willingness to cooperate for the sake of citizens’ safety while remaining committed to protecting privacy and freedom of speech.»
The minister highlighted that Telegram is the most popular messaging app in Kazakhstan, with more than 12 million users. Madiyev also recalled that during Durov’s last visit to Kazakhstan, he became a trustee of the IQanat project, which supports talented children in rural areas of Kazakhstan. Durov not only provided 12 grants totaling $365,000 but was also personally involved in the selection process for the grantees.
«We recognize the importance of maintaining a balance between security and freedom in the digital space and we are ready to continue meaningful cooperation with Telegram,» Madiyev said, expressing hope that the situation will be resolved soon.
The Union of Journalists of Kazakhstan also urged French authorities to ensure that Pavel Durov’s fundamental rights and freedoms are respected and to conduct an objective investigation into the case. The organization stated that the detention of Telegram’s founder could affect freedom of speech and human rights in developing countries with fragile democracies.
«In many countries where independent democratic media are regularly persecuted or have ceased to exist altogether, and where internet censorship is common, Telegram — created by Pavel Durov — remains one of the few platforms delivering objective and reliable information free from censorship to the public,» the Union of Journalists underlined.
Elon Musk described Durov’s detention in France as a «convincing ad» for the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees freedom of speech. Former Member of the European Parliament Aymeric Chauprade expressed on the social media platform X that Durov’s detention may be linked to French authorities’ desire to control Telegram. Meanwhile, Russia’s Foreign Ministry stated that its diplomats are working to clarify the circumstances surrounding Durov’s detention.
Durov was detained on Aug. 24 upon arriving in Paris from Azerbaijan by his private jet. He has been placed in custody and now faces multiple charges, including allegations of fraud, drug trafficking and the promotion of terrorism against the backdrop of Telegram being accused of failing to cooperate with law enforcement agencies concerning criminal activities.
