05:25President Vladimir Putin said that Moscow had 'no complaints' against Telegram CEO Pavel Durov - and joked that Russia was 'going to support' Kamala Harris in the US presidential race - while speaking at the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) in Vladivostok on Thursday.
"We had no complaints against him (Durov)," he said. "But I know that many countries have had, given that the [Telegram] platform is used in a certain way by some individuals, some structures that can damage the economy or the security of one state or another through their activities. I think that the Russian government might also have some questions for him. But this is something that all platforms of this kind do."
Durov is currently on bail in France and banned from leaving the country. The Russian leader also described the actions of French authorities as 'selective' and 'not clear'.
"If this is how Durov is treated, then others should probably be shut down, arrested, or placed under house arrest or some other kind of custodial arrest. The actions of the authorities are not very clear to me, since they are selective. I am referring to the French authorities," he said.
The French case involves allegations about Telegram allowing 'illicit transactions by an organised gang', 'complicity in criminal distribution of sexual images of children' and a 'refusal to communicate with the authorities'. Durov's legal team said it was "absurd to say that a platform or its boss are responsible for any abuse" carried out on that platform and that Telegram was conforming to all European laws.
Meanwhile, Putin joked that Russia's 'favourite' in the upcoming US presidential election was Democrat Kamala Harris.
"He [Joe Biden] recommended that all his supporters support Mrs Harris. And that’s what we’re going to do, we’re going to support her. <...> Secondly, she has such an expressive and infectious laugh that it shows she’s doing well. Trump has imposed more restrictions and sanctions on Russia than any president before him, and if Mrs Harris is doing well, maybe she will refrain from doing something like that," he added.
Trump and Harris face off in the November presidential election.
No complaints about Durov - and we're backing Harris, she's got such an 'infectious laugh'! - Putin at EEF in Vladivostok
President Vladimir Putin said that Moscow had 'no complaints' against Telegram CEO Pavel Durov - and joked that Russia was 'going to support' Kamala Harris in the US presidential race - while speaking at the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) in Vladivostok on Thursday.
"We had no complaints against him (Durov)," he said. "But I know that many countries have had, given that the [Telegram] platform is used in a certain way by some individuals, some structures that can damage the economy or the security of one state or another through their activities. I think that the Russian government might also have some questions for him. But this is something that all platforms of this kind do."
Durov is currently on bail in France and banned from leaving the country. The Russian leader also described the actions of French authorities as 'selective' and 'not clear'.
"If this is how Durov is treated, then others should probably be shut down, arrested, or placed under house arrest or some other kind of custodial arrest. The actions of the authorities are not very clear to me, since they are selective. I am referring to the French authorities," he said.
The French case involves allegations about Telegram allowing 'illicit transactions by an organised gang', 'complicity in criminal distribution of sexual images of children' and a 'refusal to communicate with the authorities'. Durov's legal team said it was "absurd to say that a platform or its boss are responsible for any abuse" carried out on that platform and that Telegram was conforming to all European laws.
Meanwhile, Putin joked that Russia's 'favourite' in the upcoming US presidential election was Democrat Kamala Harris.
"He [Joe Biden] recommended that all his supporters support Mrs Harris. And that’s what we’re going to do, we’re going to support her. <...> Secondly, she has such an expressive and infectious laugh that it shows she’s doing well. Trump has imposed more restrictions and sanctions on Russia than any president before him, and if Mrs Harris is doing well, maybe she will refrain from doing something like that," he added.
Trump and Harris face off in the November presidential election.
President Vladimir Putin said that Moscow had 'no complaints' against Telegram CEO Pavel Durov - and joked that Russia was 'going to support' Kamala Harris in the US presidential race - while speaking at the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) in Vladivostok on Thursday.
"We had no complaints against him (Durov)," he said. "But I know that many countries have had, given that the [Telegram] platform is used in a certain way by some individuals, some structures that can damage the economy or the security of one state or another through their activities. I think that the Russian government might also have some questions for him. But this is something that all platforms of this kind do."
Durov is currently on bail in France and banned from leaving the country. The Russian leader also described the actions of French authorities as 'selective' and 'not clear'.
"If this is how Durov is treated, then others should probably be shut down, arrested, or placed under house arrest or some other kind of custodial arrest. The actions of the authorities are not very clear to me, since they are selective. I am referring to the French authorities," he said.
The French case involves allegations about Telegram allowing 'illicit transactions by an organised gang', 'complicity in criminal distribution of sexual images of children' and a 'refusal to communicate with the authorities'. Durov's legal team said it was "absurd to say that a platform or its boss are responsible for any abuse" carried out on that platform and that Telegram was conforming to all European laws.
Meanwhile, Putin joked that Russia's 'favourite' in the upcoming US presidential election was Democrat Kamala Harris.
"He [Joe Biden] recommended that all his supporters support Mrs Harris. And that’s what we’re going to do, we’re going to support her. <...> Secondly, she has such an expressive and infectious laugh that it shows she’s doing well. Trump has imposed more restrictions and sanctions on Russia than any president before him, and if Mrs Harris is doing well, maybe she will refrain from doing something like that," he added.
Trump and Harris face off in the November presidential election.