"There is actually an oppression of journalists and freedom of speech in the West and especially in the EU," Angelo Giuliano, a Hong Kong-based political and financial analyst, told Sputnik, commenting on Telegram CEO Pavel Durov's arrest in France.Giuliano also pointed to the FBI’s raid on the home of Scott Ritter, a former United States Marine Corps intelligence officer, and mentioned that late Chilean-American journalist Gonzalo Lira died while in Ukrainian custody. The analyst also drew attention to the arrest of independent journalist Richard Medhurst by British police on August 15 at London’s Heathrow Airport. The journalist known for his critical coverage of the US, British and Israeli role in the ongoing bloodshed in Gaza, was arrested under Section 12 of the Terrorism Act (2000). When it comes to Durov, the Telegram founder is accused of allegedly enabling criminal activities through insufficient moderation of the platform, the French press claims, adding that he faces up to 20 years behind bars. In his April interview with US journalist Tucker Carlson, Durov suggested that he is a target for Western intelligence services. He said that US cybersecurity officials previously attempted to create a backdoor in his app. Durov stressed that such a backdoor would enable tighter government control over social media platforms.
"I wouldn't be surprised that they would try to get their hands on Telegram, to strike a deal with Telegram saying, well, we release you, you give us a price and maybe we can buy you," Giuliano said, presuming that the arrest serves as a sort of "bargaining chip."Freedom of speech has become very "inconvenient" for the West, according to the pundit: "What they say clearly at the EU is that they need to control the narrative, because that's everything. The narrative you control controls the mind of the people." Giuliano noted that just three years ago, Durov became a French citizen, indicating that the Telegram founder was in good standing with the French government. In 2023, French media reported that Paris had chosen "an exceptional and highly political procedure" to grant Durov citizenship. This abrupt shift in the French authorities' stance has raised questions, Giuliano pointed out. The pundit suggests that Durov's arrest rings alarm bells for people like Tesla CEO and X owner Elon Musk: "Keep in mind that Elon Musk hasn't actually complied with EU regulation, and in reality he would be de facto also another target." The arrest of the Telegram CEO is "really a red flag overall for journalists and for whoever is actually spilling the truth, inconvenient truth," Giuliano concluded. Read more at: SputnikGlobe.com
RFK Jr. says other Democrats will join him in “actively campaigning” for Donald Trump
By Ethan Huff // Share
Ultra-vaccinated Dr. FAUCI suffers THIRD case of COVID which devolved into West Nile infection
By Lance D Johnson // Share
U.K. nurses will deny healthcare to anyone opposing unlimited illegal immigration
By Belle Carter // Share
Western sanctions on Moscow INEFFECTIVE – U.S. in “agony” that Putin is winning
By Ethan Huff // Share
Congress passes slimmed-down funding bill – a VICTORY for Trump and Musk
By bellecarter // Share