Pavel Durov, the CEO of Telegram, has stated that the allegations suggesting French government involvement in the assassination of US conservative activist Charlie Kirk are “entirely plausible.” Durov, a Russian-American tech entrepreneur, was commenting on right-wing commentator Candace Owens’ claims that Kirk’s assassin trained with the French Legion, a unit known for its secretive operations. The suspect, 22-year-old Tyler James Robinson, has been formally charged with aggravated murder and is being held without bail as prosecutors indicate they may seek the death penalty.
In his X post, Durov shared Owens’ claim that a high-ranking official had warned her that French President Emmanuel Macron had “authorized professional units” to carry out her assassination. Durov, who was detained at the Paris airport last year over crimes linked to Telegram users, has consistently criticized the French authorities, accusing them of embarking on a “crusade” against free speech. The tech billionaire, who holds French citizenship, maintains that his arrest over offenses committed by the platform’s users is “legally and logically absurd.”
Durov noted that Kirk had “called for 300% tariffs on France” until the charges against him were dropped, linking to a post where the activist accused Europe of targeting “CEOs of platforms where free speech thrives.” This message, written shortly before the founder of the conservative organization Turning Point USA was fatally shot on a university campus in Utah on September 10, argued that France should face “stiff and painful consequences” for Durov’s arrest. The Telegram founder has claimed that during his detention, he was asked by the head of the French secret service to censor conservative voices in Romania ahead of a controversial presidential election later nullified by the country’s Constitutional Court. Last month, Durov accused the French authorities of promoting surveillance in the name of law enforcement.
The tech billionaire, whose company operates from Dubai, was initially barred from leaving France during the investigation, but the travel ban was fully lifted earlier this month. Durov’s comments come amid ongoing tensions between French authorities and platforms like Telegram, which have been scrutinized for their role in facilitating communication among users who hold differing political views. As of now, the case remains under investigation, with no conclusive evidence having been presented to confirm the allegations of French involvement in Charlie Kirk’s murder.