No:414/24, Response by Aykhan Hajizada, Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to the local media inquiry regarding the detention by France of Pavel Durov, founder of the “Telegram” social network, and Kemi Seba, African peoples’ rights advocate
Question: As it is well-known, Pavel Durov, the founder of the “Telegram” social network, who recently visited Azerbaijan, and Kemi Seba, an advocate defending African peoples' rights, were arrested in France. They are the subject of several charges. What is your assessment regarding the steps taken by France?
Answer: Detention of Pavel Durov, the founder of the “Telegram” social network, and Kemi Seba, a person who is known for advocating for the rights of African peoples, by French law enforcement agencies and the imposition of arrest measures against them constitutes a violation of fundamental human rights in France. It is unacceptable to subject these individuals to persecution based on their political views and convictions.
France must conduct the relevant investigation in a fully transparent and fair manner, and the international community must be informed accordingly.
We believe that such politically motivated arrests in France must be investigated and assessed by the relevant institutions of the European Union, the Council of Europe and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.