Messaging app Telegram on Sunday asserted its compliance with the EU laws, including the Digital Services Act, stating that its moderation is within industry standards and constantly improving.
Telegram made the statement on social media X following the arrest of its founder Pavel Durov by French police at an airport outside Paris on Saturday night.
The accusations against Durov include terrorism, drug trafficking, fraud, and money laundering, reports said, adding that Durov could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
The app also said that Durov has nothing to hide and travels frequently in Europe. As means of communication and as a source of vital information of almost a billion users globally, it is awaiting a prompt resolution of this situation, said Telegram.
Leonid Grigorievich Ivlev, a member of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, said on Sunday that Durov's arrest is linked to Western intelligence agencies' desire to obtain Telegram's encryption keys and methods. This would enable them to decrypt communications, including military ones, which is particularly significant for NATO.
Ivlev added that Telegram is actively used in Russian special military operations and communications with senior officials. Consequently, the French intelligence agency is expected to acquire Durov's key and password, allowing NATO to access encrypted communications, including those related to military matters.
Maria Valerievna Butina, another member of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, said France arrested Durov aiming to control the Telegram, while Durov became the victim of western political persecution.
According to French media, French judicial authorities extended the detention of Durov on Sunday night. The initial detention period for questioning can extend up to 96 hours.
Telegram asserts compliance with EU Law following founder’s arrest in France
Telegram asserts compliance with EU Law following founder’s arrest in France
The 11th Beijing Xiangshan Forum opened in Beijing on Friday morning with hotspots around the world and security cooperation taking the center stage.
The opening ceremony was attended by more than 600 official representatives from over 100 countries and international organizations, including nearly 300 heads of official delegations and officials from various countries. The forum is held with the theme of "Promoting Peace for a shared future".
China's Defense Minister Dong Jun attended the opening ceremony and delivered a keynote speech. He first read out a congratulatory letter from President Xi Jinping to the forum. Then, he mentioned in his speech the current hot issues including the Ukrainian crisis and the ongoing Palestine-Israel conflict.
Dong said "there is no winner in a war and a conflict, and there is no way out if we just confront each other." He also stressed that promoting peace talks is the only way out, and the fundamental way out.
Two plenary sessions were held after the opening ceremony. At the first session, participants exchanged views on "security cooperation and prosperity and stability in the Asia-Pacific region", and official representatives from Vietnam, Singapore, Pakistan, Fiji, Russia and Malaysia spoke at the meeting.
The theme of the second plenary session was "multipolarization and the direction of international order", and defense ministers or military generals from six countries including Cambodia, Tanzania, Cameroon and Iran delivered speeches.
The topics all focus on security hotspots. Participants include not only developing and developed countries, but also representatives, experts and scholars from the closely-watched countries such as the United States, Russia, and Ukraine.
In interviews, many participants said that the Beijing Xiangshan Forum is committed to promoting dialog, exchanges and cooperation among defense agencies, militaries and international organizations of various countries, and is playing an active role in promoting regional security and stability and maintaining world peace and development.
The ongoing Beijing Xiangshan Forum, which runs until Saturday, will also hold eight parallel group sessions, focusing on themes such as the correct way for China and the United States to get along, European security trends and Middle East peace vision. This year, a new session on outer space security has been set up for participants to jointly discuss issues on outer space security governance.
Initiated in 2006, the Beijing Xiangshan Forum is a high-level security and defense forum in the Asia-Pacific with significant international influence.
11th Beijing Xiangshan Forum opens with focus on hotspots, security cooperation
