Telegram CEO backs Candace Owens' claim about ‘French involvement’ in Charlie Kirk murder
Telegram CEO Pavel Durov has backed Candace Owens' claims about France's role in Charlie Kirk's death, deeming them “entirely plausible”.
Telegram CEO Pavel Durov has responded to recent assertions made by conservative commentator Candace Owens in connection with the murder of Charlie Kirk. In a tweet, Durov stated that Owens' claims regarding France's involvement in Kirk's demise are “entirely plausible.”

Here's what Candace Owens said
On Sunday, Candace Owens claimed that French President Emmanuel Macron and his spouse, Brigitte Macron, conspired to have her assassinated. She stated that this information was provided by a “high-ranking employee of the French Government” two days earlier, and alleged that the Macrons had “executed upon and paid for my assassination.” Without offering any evidence, she went on to say: “This person claims that Charlie Kirk’s assassin trained with the French legion 13th brigade with multi-state involvement.”
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Pavel Durov backs Candace Owens
Later, Durov wrote on X, “after reviewing everything Charlie Kirk has ever said about Macron’s France, I find Candace’s info about French involvement in his death entirely plausible.”
He further noted that Kirk had previously advocated for a 300% tariff on French wine, asserting that it should remain in place until the charges against Durov were dismissed. “Charlie even called for 300% tariffs on France until the charges against me were dropped.”
“President Trump should announce plans for a 300% tariff on French wine unless ALL charges are dropped on Pavel Durov immediately. If Europe is going to imprison CEOs of platforms where free speech thrives, there should be stiff and painful consequences,” Kirk stated in a tweet from August.
Pavel Durov's remarks draw social media attention
Meanwhile, Durov's remarks gained attention on social media as his tweet received over 4.3 million views.
“Damn, if Pavel commented then it might be serious. He knows how the French are first hand,” one person commented.
“This is ridiculous. If you think the French assassinated a prominent American on American soil and the intelligence agencies didn't know about it, you are crazy. And in that case, Trump would have to have looked the other way and gave them permission. That didn't happen,” another stated.
Pavel Durov sour ties with France
Pavel Durov and France have had a difficult relationship for many years due to “loose moderation policies” of the platform. His arrest in Paris last year only made matters worse. Durov and his allies have long seen the backlash as politically motivated, despite France's assertion that the action was a part of an ongoing investigation into criminal activities on Telegram.
ABOUT THE AUTHORShweta KukretiShweta Kukreti has over 8 years of experience in covering Indian and world politics. She joined the Hindustan Times in 2024 and is primarily assigned to the US desk. She currently works as Deputy Chief Content Producer and reports on a wide range of topics, including US politics, immigration issues (especially H-1B visa) and major global events. Shweta strongly emphasizes team operations, which encompasses monitoring news, delegating tasks, editing, developing comprehensive coverage strategies, and crafting engaging, and data-informed narratives. She received the Digi Star Award at the Hindustan Times within a year of joining for her broad coverage of US politics. In 2025, she earned both a promotion and a redesignation, a significant achievement recognising her contributions and the strong value she brings to the team. She has previously worked with the Indian Express, HTDS, ANI and Republic World. Seniors in all the media organisations recognised her work. Regarding education, she earned a BA (Hons.) in Political Science and a master's degree from Delhi University, and she pursued a PG Diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Institution of Mass Communication (IIMC). She also holds a diploma in Women's Empowerment and Development from IGNOU University and a French certification course from Alliance Française de Delhi. If not working, you can find her exploring the hills and engaging in adventurous activities in Rishikesh and Himachal Pradesh. She loves to play badminton, volleyball, and chess, and spend time with her friends and family. She also enjoys spiritual activities.Read More

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