Pavel Durov: "I am Russian, and I would rather die than become someone's asset"

Durov responded to accusations of dependence on state structures

Telegram founder Pavel Durov, in a video address at the Oslo Freedom Forum, organized by the American NGO Human Rights Foundation (HRF), stated that he considers himself Russian and “would rather die than become someone’s asset.” This was his response to accusations of dependence on government structures in various countries. The forum was broadcast on the YouTube channel of the Norwegian event.

"I am Russian, and I would rather die than become someone's asset. I think that people who express such an opinion know very little about my life's journey - about what I did before Telegram, what I did with Telegram, and what role my previous company VKontakte and Telegram played in protecting freedom of speech, freedom of expression and privacy in Eastern Europe," Durov said.

He also spoke about his refusal to cooperate with Russian authorities, pressure from France, the Chinese government's attacks on Telegram, and the messenger's principled position on encryption and privacy.

The entrepreneur recalled that Telegram did not make concessions to law enforcement agencies, even when it concerned radical protest channels. In addition, according to Durov, in ten years the platform he created could reach 3-4 billion users, and its main advantages are independence, technological superiority and the absence of algorithms that impose content.

About the Human Rights Foundation (HRF)

The Human Rights Foundation (HRF) is a New York-based non-governmental organization founded in 2005 by Venezuelan human rights activist Thor Halvorssen. HRF states that its goal is to promote liberal and democratic values and protect human rights around the world. The organization provides support to activists and human rights defenders who face threats of one kind or another. HRF receives funding “primarily from generous donations and support from individuals and foundations,” according to its website.

Investigation in France and Durov's statements

Pavel Durov is under investigation in France. He was detained at a French airport on August 24, 2024, on charges of aiding in illegal transactions as part of a criminal group. The entrepreneur has not been placed in custody, but he is prohibited from leaving the country without permission from law enforcement agencies. In March, the Telegram founder received permission to travel to the UAE from March 15 to April 7 — he has citizenship in that country.

Meanwhile, on May 12, the Paris prosecutor's office rejected Durov's request to travel to the United States for "negotiations with investment funds." The agency said that "such a trip does not appear necessary or justified."

On May 18, Durov accused the government of a Western European country of trying to influence elections in Romania. He invited users to guess which country he was talking about, accompanying his post with a baguette emoji.

The businessman said that this spring he was approached by the head of French intelligence, Nicolas Lerner, who asked him to ban conservative voices in the messenger in Romania before the elections.

"I refused. We did not block protesters in Russia, Belarus or Iran. And we will not start doing this in Europe," Durov wrote on social media.

The French Foreign Ministry has denied allegations of interference in the Romanian presidential election, calling the allegations false.