French President Says Telegram Founder’s Arrest ‘Non-Political’ Amid Outrage from Russian Officials

French President Emmanuel Macron has claimed that the recent arrest of Pavel Durov, the billionaire founder of the encrypted messaging app Telegram, was not politically-motivated, Sky News reports.

Durov was detained on Saturday after his private jet landed at Le Bourget airport, near Paris.

The Paris prosecutor’s office confirmed that Durov’s arrest was connected to an investigation into cyber criminality, with allegations involving illicit transactions, child sexual abuse images, and fraud.

In response to the controversy around the arrest, Macron took to social media to clarify France’s stance.

“I have seen false information regarding France following the arrest of Pavel Durov. France is deeply committed to freedom of expression and communication, to innovation, and to the spirit of entrepreneurship. It will remain so,” he tweeted.

Durov’s arrest has prompted outrage from Russian government officials, with some labeling it a politically motivated action that reflects the West’s double standards regarding freedom of speech.