UAE suspends deal to buy fighter jets from France over Telegram CEO's arrest: Report

Following the arrest of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has suspended the deal with France for 80 warplanes, according to a report.

Durov was arrested in France over the weekend in relation to an ongoing investigation into his messaging platform Telegram. The case is related to the platform’s failure to check illicit activities on it such as drug trafficking and distribution of child porn. Durov is a Russia-born dual-citizen of France and UAE. It is not known if he retains Russian citizenship or has renounced it.

Now, it has been reported that the UAE has responded angrily to Durov’s arrest.

The UAE has suspended the deal with France for the purchase of fighter planes, according to a report by Iran’s Mehr News agency quoting Avia.pro website.

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The UAE and French aerospace giant Dassault have a deal for the supply for 80 Rafale fighter planes. That deal is now in jeopardy, as per the report.

The portal further reported that considering the possibility of a complete blockade of military-technical cooperation with France over Durov’s arrest.

The UAE has already sought consular access to Durov.

As of Tuesday, Durov had not been charged. The Associated Press has reported that Durov may be held in custody till Wednesday when a judge will either press charges on him or order release.

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