Justin Sun pledges $1M to DAO supporting Telegram’s Pavel Durov Justin Sun pledges $1M to DAO supporting Telegram’s Pavel Durov
Durov's arrest fueled a debate on censorship in Europe, with high-profile supporters voicing their concerns.
2 min read
Updated: Aug. 26, 2024 at 12:23 pm UTC
Cover art/illustration via CryptoSlate. Image includes combined content which may include AI-generated content.
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.”
Mentioned in this article
Author 
Oluwapelumi Adejumo
Oluwapelumi values Bitcoin's potential. He imparts insights on a range of topics like DeFi, hacks, mining and culture, underlining transformative power.
Editor Editor 
Andjela Radmilac
Armed with a classical education and an eye for news, Andjela dove head deep into the crypto industry in 2018 after spending years covering politics.
Latest TON Stories
Latest Press Releases
In this article
TRON is one of the largest blockchain-based operating systems.
Ethereum
$2,364.40
Ethereum is a decentralized, open-source blockchain platform that enables the creation of smart contracts and decentralized applications (DApps).
Justin Sun has carved a name for himself as a leading figure in the blockchain sector.
South African-born Elon Musk has founded several companies, including X.com (which later became PayPal), SpaceX and Tesla Motors.
Edward Snowden is an American and naturalized Russian computer programmer who revealed highly classified information from the National Security Agency (NSA) in 2013 when he worked as a subcontractor.
Robert F Kennedy Jr is an American environmental lawyer, politician, and author.
Vitalik Buterin stands as the pioneering force behind Ethereum, a transformative community-driven platform that fuels the cryptocurrency ether (ETH) and underpins a myriad of decentralized applications.
