Durov’s arrest sparked a debate on censorship in Europe, with prominent supporters expressing their concerns.

TRON founder Justin Sun has committed to donating $1 million to any Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO) established to advocate for the release of Telegram’s founder, Pavel Durov.

On August 25, Sun tweeted:

“We need to show unity within the cryptocurrency industry by creating a #FreePavel DAO to help Telegram founder Pavel Durov secure his freedom legally. I’ll contribute $1 million if it’s organized in a decentralized manner with significant community backing.”

Sun’s statement reflects the widespread support Durov has garnered since his arrest in France on August 23.

Durov, who holds dual French-Russian citizenship, was detained by the French Air Transport Gendarmerie (GTA) after his private jet landed at Le Bourget airport. He was listed as wanted in France under a warrant that only applied if he was on French soil.

French authorities accuse Durov of complicity in crimes due to Telegram’s alleged failure to properly moderate content. He could face charges related to involvement in drug trafficking, child exploitation, and fraud.

FreePavel

Throughout the weekend, several prominent figures in the cryptocurrency industry, including Elon Musk, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin, and Robert Kennedy Jr., expressed their support for Durov’s release using the #FreePavel hashtag.

Elon Musk was one of the first to voice support, tweeting “#FreePavel.” Later, in his typical style, Musk added a sarcastic comment about the growing censorship in Europe, stating:

“POV: It’s 2030 in Europe, and you’re being executed for liking a meme.”

Similarly, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin commented that the arrest is “deeply concerning for the future of software and communication freedom in Europe.”

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who recently withdrew from the U.S. presidential race to support former president Donald Trump, emphasized the urgency of protecting free speech, tweeting:

“France has just arrested Pavel Durov, the founder & CEO of the encrypted, uncensored Telegram platform. The need to protect free speech has never been more critical.”

Additionally, whistleblower Edward Snowden condemned Durov’s arrest as “an attack on the fundamental human rights of speech and association.” He added:

“I am shocked and saddened that Macron has resorted to taking hostages to gain access to private communications. This diminishes not only France but the world.”