Telegram founder Pavel Durov was recently arrested in France. Regulators listed 12 charges, including suspected involvement in illegal platform operations and assisting organized crime, child pornography and drug trading, failure to cooperate with legal interceptions, and the use of illegal encryption technology. and providing, etc.; the French President even stated that this action was based on a judicial investigation and was by no means politically motivated.
( Telegram founder Pavel Durov faces multiple felony charges and will be detained until August 28 )
Pavel Durov was born in Russia and holds nationality of Russia, France, the United Arab Emirates, and St. Kitts and Nevis. Because Pavel Durov entered France this time, the regulatory authorities obtained law enforcement powers.
At the same time, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs also announced today that it will pay close attention to the case of citizen Pavel Durov. The UAE stated:
"The UAE is closely following the arrest of its citizen and Telegram founder Pavel Durov by French authorities at Paris-Le Bourget Airport and stresses that the UAE has submitted a request to the Government of the French Republic to provide him with all necessary consular services as a matter of urgency." UAE Diplomacy The Ministry of Finance (MoFA) stressed in a statement that prioritizing the welfare of UAE citizens, safeguarding their interests and providing them with support in all aspects is the UAE's top priority.
UAE to the rescue! Does Pavel Durov have any solution? What are the consular services?
The United Arab Emirates proactively announced that it hopes to provide Pavel Durov with necessary consular services. What is usually called consular service depends on bilateral agreements between the country and the arresting country, international conventions (such as the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations), and the domestic laws of the country concerned.
Typically consular services include:
- Liaison and Visits: Consular officials can visit detainees to ensure they are in good health and confirm they are being treated fairly.
- Legal information and assistance: The consulate can provide local legal information, assist in finding a lawyer, or recommend legal aid services. Consuls generally do not intervene directly in judicial proceedings but can provide guidance to detainees.
- Coordination and Notifying Family: Consular officers can assist in notifying the detainee’s family or designated contact person and assist family members with follow-up arrangements if needed.
- Ensuring fair treatment: Consuls can monitor whether arrest and trial procedures comply with international standards and protest or engage in diplomatic representation if unfair treatment is discovered.
It can be seen from this that once Pavel Durov's case enters the judicial process, it will not be solved by the intervention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs alone, but can only provide assistance.
