The Kremlin spokesman said that, as far as he knew, Putin and Durov had never met. (File)
The Kremlin has never made any deals with Telegram boss Pavel Durov, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday, adding that he was not aware of any meetings between the technology entrepreneur and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
A French judge formally investigated Russian-born Durov on Wednesday for suspected complicity in running an online platform that facilitated illegal transactions, images of child sex abuse, drug trafficking and fraud.
Durov’s lawyer said Thursday that it is “absurd” to suggest he should be held responsible for crimes committed through the app.
“There have been no negotiations between Durov and the Kremlin,” Peskov told reporters. “And the fact that he visited Russia, well, he’s a Russian citizen, he moves freely, so of course he visited Russia.
“There were no deals between the Kremlin and Durov,” Peskov said in response to further questions.
Peskov said that, as far as he knew, Putin and Durov had never met.
Russia has rallied behind him after years of pressure on Durov and his technology ventures, with Peskov saying this week that the case against him should not become a political prosecution.
Moscow tried in 2018 to block Telegram, which has nearly 1 billion users, but was unsuccessful. It has also demanded in the past that the platform hand over data, something Durov said he refused to do.
Moscow says the case has taken French-Russian relations to a new low, with some pro-Kremlin figures accusing Washington of being behind Durov’s detention, something Paris has denied.
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