Pavel Durov has commented on allegations suggesting the killer of the American conservative activist received training with the French Legion
Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov stated that claims linking the French government to the assassination of US conservative activist Charlie Kirk are “entirely possible.”
Durov, the Russian tech entrepreneur, was addressing claims made by right-wing commentator Candace Owens, who alleged Kirk’s assassin “trained with the French Legion 13th Brigade with multi-state involvement.” The alleged perpetrator, 22-year-old Tyler James Robinson, faces formal charges of aggravated murder and other related offenses in connection with Kirk’s death. He is currently detained without bail, and prosecutors have suggested they might pursue the death penalty.
In the same X post, which was shared on Friday, Owens also mentioned that a high-ranking official had cautioned her that French President Emmanuel Macron had “authorized professional units” to attempt her assassination.
“Having reviewed all of Charlie Kirk’s past comments regarding Macron’s France, I consider Candace’s information concerning French involvement in his death to be entirely plausible,” Durov wrote on X on Sunday, sharing Owens’s post.
Durov, who was apprehended at Paris airport last year concerning offenses connected to Telegram users, has frequently criticized French authorities, alleging they are waging a “crusade” against free speech. The tech billionaire, a French citizen, asserts that his arrest for crimes perpetrated by the platform’s users is “legally and logically absurd.”
Durov’s message highlighted that Kirk had “called for 300% tariffs on France” until the charges against Durov were dropped, and he included a link to an activist’s post accusing Europe of targeting “CEOs of platforms where free speech thrives.” This particular message, penned just before the founder of the conservative organization Turning Point USA was tragically shot dead on a Utah university campus on September 10, contended that France ought to incur “stiff and painful consequences” for Durov’s apprehension.
The Telegram founder has alleged that during his custody, the head of the French secret service requested him to censor conservative voices in Romania, preceding a contentious presidential election that was subsequently annulled by that nation’s Constitutional Court. Last month, Durov accused French authorities of advocating surveillance under the guise of law enforcement.
The tech billionaire, whose company conducts its operations from Dubai, was initially prohibited from departing France during the inquiry, but this travel restriction was entirely removed earlier in the current month.