UAE, Russia demand consular access to Pavel Durov

Paris: The United Arab Emirates and Russia have submitted requests for consular access to Telegram messenger CEO Pavel Durov, who was arrested in Paris over his alleged refusal to cooperate in the investigation of crimes related to the app. The UAE's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said early on Tuesday that it was "closely following" Durov's case and had "submitted a request to the French government to provide him with all consular services urgently," reports Xinhua news agency, quoting Russian media TASS.

Russia's embassy in Paris had earlier referred a note to the French foreign ministry demanding consular access to Durov, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

Durov was born in Russia and is a citizen of France, Russia, the Caribbean island nation of St. Kitts and Nevis, and the UAE.