Medvedev to Durov: You'll Always be a Russian

Chris Menahan
InformationLiberation
Aug. 25, 2024

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev reacted to the arrest of Telegram founder Pavel Durov in France by telling him that his embrace of cosmopolitanism will never change the fact that he's a Russian in the eyes of their common enemies.

Medvedev wrote in a statement on Sunday:

"Once, quite a long time ago, I asked Durov why he did not want to cooperate with law enforcement agencies on serious crimes. "This is my principled position," he said. "Then there will be serious problems in any country," I told him.

He decided that his biggest problems were in Russia, and he left, and then also received citizenship/residence permits in other countries. He wanted to be a brilliant "man of the world" who lives well without a homeland. Ubi bene ibi patria!

He miscalculated. For all our common enemies now, he is Russian – and therefore unpredictable and dangerous . Of a different blood. Definitely not Musk or Zuckerberg (who, by the way, actively cooperates with the FBI). Durov needs to finally understand that one does not choose one's Fatherland, just like one does not choose one’s times..."

Durov holds citizenship in France, UAE, Russia and Saint Kitts and Nevis.

French media is reporting that the arrest warrant for Durov was signed minutes before his plane landed in Paris for refueling. I.e., they learned he'd land and spontaneously decided to have him arrested. I 🫶 liberté
— Russians With Attitude (@RWApodcast) August 24, 2024

#FreeDurov

They hated him because he looksmaxxed, created the biggest free speech platform on the internet and had over 100 children pic.twitter.com/J7q4qkBFTh
— Russians With Attitude (@RWApodcast) August 24, 2024

Durov boasted about his cosmopolitan quest for "freedom" in an interview with Tucker Carlson earlier this year.

Pavel Durov: "my mission in life was to allow other people to also become free"#FreeDurov pic.twitter.com/6PR4eH8F1V
— Anatolii (@quasa0) August 25, 2024

He's learning the hard way that real freedom only comes through your people's self-determination.

Whether he will be released is not clear but so far it's not looking good.

A French judicial official "speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation" told the New York Times on Sunday evening "that his time in custody had been extended."

"Under French law, the initial 24 hours spent in custody can be extended to up to 96 hours, depending on the seriousness of the criminal accusations."

"When this phase of detention ends, the judge can decide to free him or press charges and remand in further custody," according to the Guardian.

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