The French president has denied inviting the Telegram founder to dinner
French President Emmanuel Macron has denied any advance knowledge of Pavel Durov’s trip to Paris or any role in his arrest and detention.
Durov was detained at Le Bourget airport last Saturday after flying in from Azerbaijan. He reportedly told police he was on his way to meet Macron for dinner, according to the French outlet Le Canard Enchaine.
“I was absolutely not aware of Mr. Durov’s arrival in France – and this is normal, because I am not supposed to know about the comings and goings of everyone with French nationality,” Macron told reporters at a press conference in Belgrade on Thursday evening.
“It is false that I had made any invitation, it is totally false,” the French president added. “I was not supposed to see Durov either last weekend or thereafter.”
Macron, who is on a two-day visit to Serbia, insisted that France protects freedom of expression and is committed to entrepreneurs and innovators.
“But we’re also a country where there is a separation of powers and judges make decisions independently. And this is a good thing,” he said.
