TRON founder Justin Sun has pledged to donate $1 million to any Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO) formed to advocate for the release of Telegram’s founder, Pavel Durov.
On Aug. 25, Sun tweeted:
“We should show the cryptocurrency industry’s unity by organizing a #FreePavel DAO to help Telegram founder Pavel Durov legally gain freedom. I’ll donate $1 million if it’s created in a decentralized way with enough community support.”
Sun’s statement highlights the widespread support Durov has received since his arrest in France on Aug. 23.
Durov, a French-Russian citizen, was detained by the French Air Transport Gendarmerie (GTA) after his private jet landed at Le Bourget airport. He was listed as a wanted person in France under a warrant that applied only if he was on French soil.
French authorities accuse Durov of complicity in crimes due to Telegram’s alleged failure to moderate content properly. He could face charges related to complicity in drug trafficking, child exploitation, and fraud.
#FreePavel
Over the weekend, prominent figures in the crypto industry—including Elon Musk, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin, Robert Kennedy Jr., and several others — voiced their support for Durov’s release using the #FreePavel hashtag.
Elon Musk was among the first to express support, tweeting the hashtag “#FreePavel.” True to his style, Musk later added a sarcastic comment referencing the increasing censorship in Europe. He wrote:
“POV: It’s 2030 in Europe, and you’re being executed for liking a meme.”
Similarly, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin stated that the arrest looks “very bad and worrying for the future of software and comms freedom in Europe.”
Meanwhile, Robert F. Kennedy, who recently exited the US presidential race to back former president Donald Trump, stressed the importance of protecting free speech. He tweeted:
“France just arrested Pavel Durov, founder & CEO of the encrypted, uncensored Telegram platform. The need to protect free speech has never been more urgent.”
In addition, renowned whistleblower Edward Snowden said Durov’s arrest was “an assault on the basic human rights of speech and association.” He added:
“I am surprised and deeply saddened that Macron has descended to the level of taking hostages as a means for gaining access to private communications. It lowers not only France, but the world.”
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