On October 16, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan issued a statement regarding the recent arrests of Pavel Durov, the founder of the Telegram social network, and Kemi Seba, a controversial activist advocating for the rights of African peoples, by French law enforcement agencies.

Azerbaijan characterized the detentions and the subsequent actions taken against Durov and Seba as violations of fundamental human rights in France. The statement condemned the persecution of these individuals based on their political beliefs and opinions, describing such actions as unacceptable. The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry called for a transparent and fair investigation by the French authorities and emphasized the importance of keeping the international community informed about the proceedings.

Furthermore, the Foreign Ministry expressed the view that these politically motivated arrests should be subject to scrutiny by relevant institutions within the European Union, the Council of Europe, and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). It urged these bodies to provide an appropriate assessment of the situation.

Notably, Beninese activist Kemi Seba, known for his anti-Western views and connections to Russia, was reportedly detained in Paris, although the reason for his detention remains unclear. French police took Seba, whose real name is Stellio Gilles Robert Capo Chichi, into custody on Monday along with his associate, Hery Djehuty. Seba, the founder of the NGO Urgences Panafricanistes, was in France to meet with Beninese opposition figures and visit a sick relative, according to his NGO spokesperson. On October 17, Seba has been released from French custody without charges, two days after he was arrested in Paris.

In July 2024, Seba's French citizenship was revoked by the French Interior Ministry due to his anti-French stance, a decision upheld by the French Council of State. Following this, he received a Nigerien diplomatic passport from Niger’s military junta, where he was appointed as an advisor to General Abdourahamane Tchiani. Seba has also been linked to pro-Russian networks and reportedly received over $400,000 through these associations between 2018 and 2019. Despite the controversies surrounding him, Seba remains a significant figure in pan-African movements advocating for independence from former colonial powers.