JUST IN: 🇷🇺 🇫🇷 France blocks Russian embassy officials in Paris from visiting arrested Telegram founder, Pavel Durov

French and Russian flags

Paris, France – In a significant diplomatic development, French authorities have blocked Russian embassy officials in Paris from visiting Pavel Durov, the founder of the Telegram messaging platform, who has been arrested. This decision has led to heightened tensions between France and Russia, with the Russian embassy accusing French authorities of "refusing to cooperate."

The arrest of Durov, which occurred earlier this week, has sparked international attention. Durov, known for his role in the popular Telegram app, was detained under circumstances that remain unclear but are believed to be linked to ongoing investigations in France. The nature of the charges against him has not been disclosed to the public.

Russian officials have expressed strong dissatisfaction with France's handling of the situation. The Russian embassy in Paris has claimed that the French government's refusal to allow their consular representatives to meet with Durov constitutes a breach of diplomatic norms and an affront to international law.

In response, French authorities have maintained that the arrest and subsequent detention of Durov are conducted in accordance with French legal procedures. They assert that the decision to block embassy officials from visiting him is a matter of national security and legal protocol.

This diplomatic incident has the potential to strain relations between the two nations further. Observers are closely watching the situation to see how it will impact broader geopolitical dynamics and whether it will lead to any significant changes in France-Russia relations.

Buraopost will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as more information becomes available.