> (...) ignoring the fact that Durov is a Russian tech oligarch that was allowed to sell his vk userbase to an authoritarian state and is neither in a Siberian labor colony or having a taste of novichok/plutonium poisoning.
Adding to that, note the outrage expressed by high-level Russian officials regarding Durov's arrest. Not only are they ok with a private business running a supposedly confidential messaging service within Russia, they also go to bat for him to try to protect it. This, in a regime so hostile to free speech and personal liberty such as Russia.
Nah. They jumped on a rare opportunity to present themselves as the proponents of the free speech. And surely there is an ulterior motive to gain more control over Durov and Telegram.
Telegram's premier feature are channels and there are multitude of popular ones deeply critical of the Putin's regime (and there are a lot of pro-government or state-controlled ones).
Telegram is de facto the biggest (meta) source with at least a modicum of free speech in Russia.
Adding to that, note the outrage expressed by high-level Russian officials regarding Durov's arrest. Not only are they ok with a private business running a supposedly confidential messaging service within Russia, they also go to bat for him to try to protect it. This, in a regime so hostile to free speech and personal liberty such as Russia.