Social media is once again ablaze, this time with the hashtags #FreeDurov and #FreePavel, as users around the world react to the arrest of Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram. The irony is palpable: Russia, which once sought to silence Durov for his refusal to comply with its demands, is now rushing to his defense, highlighting just how much the digital landscape has shifted in the past decade.

Irony of Russia’s defense

The arrest of Pavel Durov in France has sent shockwaves across the globe, and the platform is now at the centre of a geopolitical storm. The Kremlin, usually quick to crack down on dissent and control the flow of information, is now championing Durov’s freedom, warning that the French authorities’ actions could threaten the very freedom of communication they once sought to curb.

As reported by CNN, Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for the Russian government, was quick to label calls for users to delete sensitive messages on Telegram as “utterly stupid,” a statement that emphasises the platform’s significance in Russia. The Kremlin’s defense of Durov, urging French authorities to provide “serious” evidence for the charges against him, marks a stark contrast to its past attempts to control and suppress the very tool Durov created.

Origins of #FreePavel and #FreeDurov

POV: It’s 2030 in Europe and you’re being executed for liking a meme https://t.co/OkZ6YS3u2P

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 24, 2024

The current wave of support for Durov is not without precedent. The hashtag #FreePavel first gained traction in 2021 when Russian authorities demanded that Durov shut down specific Telegram channels used to organise protests. Durov’s refusal to comply led to widespread concerns for his safety, sparking the creation and viral spread of the #FreePavel hashtag. It became a rallying cry for those advocating for freedom of speech and digital privacy, two principles that have been at the core of Durov’s work.

Even earlier, in 2014, #Durov emerged as a powerful symbol of resistance. This was when Pavel Durov announced that he had been ousted from his role as CEO of VKontakte (VK), the social networking giant he founded. Durov’s dismissal followed his refusal to hand over personal data of Ukrainian protesters to Russian security agencies and his resistance to other governmental demands. The hashtag #Durov quickly spread across social media, drawing attention to his plight and the broader issues of governmental overreach and privacy violations.

Current storm

Today, both #FreePavel and #FreeDurov are trending once again, but the context is vastly different. While in the past, these hashtags were used to protest against Russian authorities’ attempts to suppress Durov, they are now being employed to protest his arrest by French authorities. The charges against him, which include allegations of aiding money laundering, drug trafficking, and refusing to assist in intercepting illicit communications, have been met with skepticism by many online.

Adding to the irony is the fact that Russia, once Durov’s adversary, is now one of his staunchest defenders. According to CNN, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has even suggested, without evidence, that Durov’s arrest may be a ploy to gain access to Telegram’s encryption codes, a move that would have been unthinkable when Durov was being pressured by Russian authorities to surrender user data. As the story unfolds, the irony of the situation is impossible to ignore.