Another year, another two-day marathon for me at the Minnesota State Fair.

The second day is traditionally reserved for beverages, and this year, a merry group of us sampled most of the 63 newbies. There was an obscene amount of fruit- (especially berry) flavored beers, way too many slushies and seltzers, and a lot of too-sweet wine.

A few of the new beverages were already sold out, and we didn’t make it to the International Bazaar before it closed, unfortunately.

Here are our thoughts on the new drinks, grouped by location, in the order we sampled them.

The Hangar

On the northeast corner of Underwood Street and Murphy Avenue

Cinnamon Lemoncello Cake’d Up: Although we were dreading this ungodly flavor combination, we did not taste any cinnamon and very little limoncello. One taster quipped, “I’m glad it’s not what it says it is.” Brewed by Mankato Brewery; 5% ABV

Lingonberry Blast: I don’t know whose idea it was to have two lingonberry beers at the same location, but if you gotta have one, this is the winner of the lingonberry wars. Lots of lingonberry flavor without being overly sweet. Brewed by Mankato Brewery; 5% ABV

“The Lingonburg” – Lingonberry Shandy: This tastes like a mistake. The hops clash with the lingonberry, and there’s an off-putting aroma. Brewed by Excelsior Brewing Company.

Giggles’ Campfire Grill

Sweet Clementine Beer and Pina Ciderlada from Giggles’ Campfire Grill, new beverages in 2024 at the Minnesota State Fair. (Jess Fleming / Pioneer Press)

At southeast corner of Lee Avenue and Cooper Street, at The North Woods

Piña Ciderlada: Although Giggles gets points for presentation, this was a little too Hawaiian Tropic for us, and the coconut cream left an unappetizing sheen over the top of the beer. If you like ambrosia salad, it tastes a lot like that. Brewed by Sociable Cider Werks; 5.9% ABV

Sweet Clementine Beer: We all had different takes on what this tasted like: Tang, Sunny D or Orangina were mentioned. I guess that means the orange flavor came through, but we still didn’t love any of those flavors in our beer. Brewed by Third Street Brewhouse; 4.2% ABV

O’Gara’s at the Fair

A Watermelon Crush slushie and Strawberry Guava Miraculum are both 2024 Minnesota State Fair new beverages at O’Gara’s at the Fair.

On the southwest corner of Dan Patch Avenue and Cosgrove Street

Lake Dayz Spritz: This was billed as a “refreshing tropical wine spritz,” and it lived up to that. Though it was too sweet for us to want a whole one, our tasters agreed it was not terrible, and my favorite quote was, “If I was 16, I’d be really into this.” Basically a modern-day wine cooler. Made by Rustic Roots Winery & Lift Bridge Brewing Company; 7% ABV

Prickly Pear Passion Fruit Cider: This crusher of a cider from Wild State Cider in Duluth is apple-y, tropical and delicious. One taster said he’d buy a six-pack to take home if he could. 5.5% ABV

Strawberry Guava Miraculum: This one split the crowd. IPA lovers were fans. Those who don’t enjoy hops were not. The fruit flavor is not overpowering, which I appreciated. Brewed by Pryes Brewing Company; 6.4% ABV

Watermelon Crush: I’m not sure why I even ordered this Red Bull-infused slushie, but it was every bit as horrible as I expected it to be. Our tasters said it best: “Urinal cake,” “I can’t escape that cough-syrupy, tinny Red Bull flavor,” and “Tastes like crushed-up Sweet Tarts.” Brewed by Lift Bridge Brewing Company; 5% ABV

Dino’s Gyros

On the north side of Carnes Avenue between Nelson and Underwood streets

Purple Reign IPA: This bright purple double dry-hopped Cold IPA from Bent Brewstillery pleased both lovers and haters of hoppy beer. Balanced, tasty and comes with some really cool heart-shaped sunglasses! 5.5% ABV

Imperial Mai Tai Seltzer: Why does “lower-calorie” and “lower-carb” always have to translate to “fake sugar flavor?” This comment made me chortle: “Smells and tastes like a Flinstone’s vitamin.” Brewed by Bent Brewstillery, 8% ABV

Blackberry Limeade Lager: Nice fruity nose, grainy finish. Tasters were pretty ambivalent: “This isn’t totally bad,” one said. Someone followed with “There’s better beer out there.” Brewed by Indeed Brewing Company; 5.2% ABV

Blackberry Breeze: What do you know? A berry bevvy that smells and tastes like berries! Fruity, quenching and tasty. Duluth’s Wild State Cider is killing it. 5.2% ABV

Watermelon Hard Candy Seltzer: A watermelon Jolly Rancher in liquid form. Finishing a whole one would be a challenge. Brewed in Roseville by Bent Brewstillery; 5% ABV

Passion Fruit Daiquiri Seltzer: Maybe it was the neon yellow color, but tasters thought this one tasted like soda. We didn’t detect any passion fruit, though. Brewed in Roseville by Bent Brewstillery; 5% ABV

Mancini’s al Fresco

On the north side of Carnes Avenue between Nelson and Underwood streets

Cherry Lime Freeze: It’s the color of Kool-Aid and tastes like it, too. If you’re into that, get it. Brewed by Boulevard Beverage Co.; 4% ABV

Grilled Pineapple Lager: A little smoky, a little fruity, very refreshing. We all loved this, and a few thought it would make a perfect breakfast beer. Brewed by Indeed Brewing Company; 5.2% ABV

Sparkling Pearsecco: Lovely, crisp, light and refreshing. Tastes like biting into a pear. Brewed by Loon Juice Cider Company; 5.5% ABV

Orange Bellini: Like a mimosa but worse. Much worse. Brewed by Cannon River Winery; 12% ABV

Lemon Bellini: Better than the orange because the base wine is too sweet and the tartness of the lemon balances it a bit. But, as one taster said, “I still don’t want to drink it.” Brewed by Cannon River Winery; 12% ABV

The Hideaway Speakeasy

The Viking duck in our Attack of the Quack! beer from Surly Brewing Co. wouldn’t stay upright. Find this 2024 new Minnesota State Fair beverage at The Hideaway Speakeasy. (Jess Fleming / Pioneer Press)

In the Veranda, Grandstand upper level, northwest section

Attack of the Quack!: I liked this fun purple punch-inspired sour, but I was alone at the table. A few commenters compared it to grape soap. Our accompanying Viking-clad rubber ducky wouldn’t stay upright — I’m hoping for Vikings fans’ sake that’s not a metaphor for the upcoming season.  Brewed by Surly Brewing Company; 4.5% ABV

Grumpy Old Manhattan: This malt-based cocktail, topped with smoky bubbles, just made us want a regular Manhattan. A little plastic-y, but not terrible for what it is. Brewed by Lift Bridge Brewing Company; 7% ABV

The Blue Barn

At West End Market, south of the History & Heritage Center

Barn Storm: This was one of the best beers of the day. A tropical sour infused with jalapeno, it’s refreshing, a little spicy and won over even the skeptics at our table. Brewed in Minneapolis by Pryes Brewing Company; 4.8% ABV

Chocobananas Wheat Ale: I honestly felt like we were being punked with this beer, which does taste like bananas dunked in Hershey’s syrup, but my question is this: Who wants that in their beer? Certainly not us. Gross. Brewed by The Freehouse; 4.8% ABV

A Hazy Shade: I like a good hazy IPA, but this one is unfortunately chalky and has a weird off flavor. There are better ones all over the Fair. Brewed by Dual Citizen Brewing Company in collaboration with The Freehouse; 6% ABV

Steph’s Summer Spritzer: The best thing we could say about this too-sweet blend of white wine, peaches, mangoes and citrus was that it was better than the Chocobananas beer. Wine made in Scandia by Rustic Roots Winery; 6.3% ABV

LuLu’s Public House

A trio of colorful new beverages — from left to right, Sour Batch Fizz, Pineapple Party and Black Current Mead — at Lulu’s Public House at the Minnesota State Fair. (Jess Fleming / Pioneer Press)

At West End Market, south of the Schell’s Stage at Schilling Amphitheater

Black Currant Mead: The barnyard smell on this drink was so off-putting I had a hard time getting it past my lips. The flavor was better than the smell — by a hair. Brewed by Sociable Cider Werks; 6% ABV

Sour Batch Fizz: I couldn’t help myself and chose the oddball woodruff flavor (This sour beer is also available infused with raspberry or watermelon), which was probably a mistake. Woodruff is described as vanilla and licorice flavoring, but we got zero licorice and the vanilla clashed with the sour taste of the beer. One taster called it “liquid vomit.” Brewed by August Schell Brewing Co; 5% ABV

Imperial Lager: Too strong to be a good hot-weather beer, this sweet, slightly hoppy lager is decent, but probably will only appeal to serious beer nerds. Brewed by August Schell Brewing Co.; 7.8% ABV

Mai Tai Slushie: This is billed as having tropical orange, pineapple and rum flavor, but all we got was artificial bubblegum. No thanks. Brewed by Lift Bridge Brewing Company; 6% ABV

Agua Fresca Hard Slushie: Far and away my favorite slushie of the day, I loved the mint and subtle, refreshing, fresh watermelon flavor, but a few in our group thought it tasted weird and even “like penicillin.” Brewed by Indeed Brewing Company; 6% ABV

Pineapple Party: I don’t usually like blonde ales, but the juicy pineapple here really won me over. Great Fair beer and goes great with Lulu’s runaway hit new food, deep-fried ranch. Brewed by Lift Bridge Brewing Company; 4.7% ABV

Firecracker Cream Ale: I also generally dislike cream ales, and this was not an exception. Billed as “erupting with pops of tart raspberry and a hint of lime,” we did not taste either. Brewed by Indeed Brewing Company; 5.5% ABV

Hazy Days IPA: This is a good, juicy hazy that tastes suspiciously like Surly’s Mosh Pit Hazy. And by suspiciously, I mean exactly. Brewed by Surly Brewing Company; 7.2% ABV

Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble: I love when a novelty beverage actually tastes like the description! Although a bit too sweet, we’d definitely order this cider, which is infused with rhubarb, strawberry juice, blackstrap molasses and lactose sugars, again. Brewed by Sociable Cider Werks; 5.9% ABV

Tangerine Sunset Mojito: Another malt-based cocktail that didn’t quite hit the mark, this one had one taster asking, “Did someone uncover a bunker of Tang somewhere?” Because it was the second drink of the day that tasted very much like Tang. We did not detect any mint flavor. Brewed by August Schell Brewing Co. in collaboration with Tattersall Distilling; 6% ABV

Touchy Peely: This infused kolsch had a bit of a Lemon Pledge nose, but it’s a crisp, refreshing beer with a low alcohol content that we appreciate on hot, sticky days. Extra credit for the best beer name of the 2024 Fair. Brewed by Modist Brewing; 4.4% ABV

RC’s BBQ

New beverage Chelsey’s Southern Sipper at RC’s BBQ at the 2024 Minnesota State Fair. (Jess Fleming / Pioneer Press)

On the north side of Dan Patch Avenue between Liggett and Chambers streets

Chelsey’s Southern Sipper: Most of us loved this peach-infused take on sweet tea, and all of us could agree it tastes very much like a peach tea Snapple. No booze detected, which is honestly a little scary. Brewed by Lift Bridge Brewing Company; 5% ABV

Frontier Bar

On the south side of Carnes Avenue between Liggett and Nelson streets

Golden Spike Ale: We weren’t sure from the description what to expect here, but the smoky mezcal flavor is pretty subtle and the prickly pear gives it a nice tartness. “I wouldn’t seek this out, so I’m pleasantly surprised by how much I like it,” one taster said. Brewed in Stillwater by Lift Bridge Brewing Company; 5% ABV

Triple Berry Cream Ale: We’ve established by now that cream ales are not my jam, but this jammy, berry-infused beer is an exception. As one taster quipped, “It’s berry good!” Brewed by Fulton Brewing; 5% ABV

Cafe Caribe

On the south side of Carnes Avenue between Chambers and Nelson streets

Blueberry Pancake Lager: We definitely got the blueberry flavor in this too-sweet concoction from Third Street Brewhouse. Perhaps it was because we were 40 mostly novelty beers in, but the cloying quality of this beer really irritated us. 4.9% ABV

Blackberry Mojito Hard Seltzer: This one split the group. I thought it was crisp and refreshing, but others thought it tasted like mouthwash. Brewed by Bauhaus Brew Labs; 5% ABV

Frozen Piña Colada: Tastes like a … pina colada! This no-brainer from Lift Bridge Brewing Company made us feel like we were sitting on a beach with a flower in our hair. 6% ABV

Frozen Spicy Pineapple Margarita: Sorry Lift Bridge, this slushie missed the mark for us. The funniest comment I can decipher in my notes is this one: “A couple of weeks ago I got a fluoride treatment and they told me it was pina colada flavored. It tasted exactly like this.” 6% ABV

Andy’s Grille

On the south side of Carnes Avenue between Liggett and Nelson streets

Tutti Frutti Bubblegum Hard Slushy: I despise bubblegum flavor, so I’ll let the tasters speak for me here. “Bubblicious in a cup” and “I was excited for this, but it’s just OK.” Brewed by Lift Bridge Brewing Company; 6% ABV

Tropical Fruit Smoothy IPA: I’m not sure I’m fully on board with the smoothie beer trend, but this tropical pink version is one of the better versions I’ve tried. Happily, we didn’t detect any of the advertised “luscious marshmallows,” though. Brewed by Pryes Brewing Company; 7.1% ABV

Coasters

On the southeast corner of Carnes Avenue and Liggett Street

Cakewalk Berry Bliss Lager: So many berry beers, and this one unfortunately adds vanilla to the mix. It does taste like cake, I guess. Sigh. Brewed in Cold Spring, Minn., by Third Street Brewhouse; 4.9% ABV

Iced Tea Lemonade Blonde Ale: It’s near the end of the night, and my notes simply say, “Smells good, tastes bad.” Brewed by Bald Man Brewing; 4.2% ABV

Mudslide Slushie: Get out your flair, TGIF lovers, because this is the real deal. Creamy, coffee-flavored, boozy bliss. And it’s somehow lactose-free! Brewed by Lift Bridge Brewing Company; 6% ABV

Popping Good Wine: First of all, the pop rocks give a little fizzle when this monstrosity of a drink is poured, but by the time you get to your table, they’ve turned into slimy white nuggets in your drink, which is awful. Secondly, this “blend of red and sparkling white wine” tastes terrible. My favorite quips from tasters: “This tastes like communion wine,” and “Ew. Mogan David.” Made by Cannon River Winery; 8% ABV

Swine & Spuds

In the Warner Coliseum

Mustard Stain IPA: Maybe it was just because it wasn’t sweet, but I loved this beer, which didn’t clobber me over the head with mustard flavor and reminded me of the beer mustard I used to make. Others weren’t quite as excited, but no one hated it, which was pretty shocking. Brewed by Spiral Brewery; 4.5% ABV (Also available at Aldo’s Burgers, Sabino’s Pizza Pies and Snack House, all in the Warner Coliseum)

Ball Park Cafe

On the east side of Underwood Street between Dan Patch and Carnes avenues, outside The Garden

Frozen Mango Tango: This was our last stop of the night, and I have to say, this pretty, very mango-flavored slushie went well with garlic fries. Would I drink it again? I guess, if someone handed it to me. Brewed by Lift Bridge Brewing Company; 6% ABV

Frozen Strawberry Daiquiri: You can mix this with the mango if you want (like a mixed-up Icee!) and I think that’s the only way I’d drink it. A little too sweet on its own. Hey, Ball Park, bring back the new beer-flavored beers next year! Please? Brewed by Lift Bridge Brewing Company; 6% ABV

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“The most interesting man in the world” was a popular grandiose advertising campaign used by the beer brand Dos Equis. And “the most curious player I have ever been around” is a statement Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck has used to describe new quarterback Max Brosmer.

The sixth-year transfer from the University of New Hampshire plays chess to help sharpen his decision-making on the football field and strums a guitar to unwind off it. He brought a handful of new Gopher teammates to his Georgia hometown to bond last spring, and in fall camp, and could be found in offensive line coach Brian Callahan’s office learning the finer points of pass protection.

Like the classy and cosmopolitan bearded gentleman in those ads for Mexican beer, Brosmer can live up to that credo: “Stay thirsty, my friends.”

After a losing season in 2023, the Gophers sought an upgrade its quarterback play and quickly courted Brosmer via the NCAA transfer portal. During spring practices, he initially careened along a learning curve, but his path appeared to smooth out for him during fall camp.

Since Brosmer’s arrival in December, Fleck, assistant coaches and his teammates have raved about his acumen and leadership skills — in a similar vein to how they boasted about predecessor Athan Kaliakmanis’ ability to sling passes a year ago.

Both lines of praise sound catchy, but must be backed up in performances on the field. For Kaliakmanis, inconsistency led to his transfer to Rutgers. For Brosmer, his first prove-it moment at the FBS level comes in the Gophers’ season opener against North Carolina at 7 p.m. Thursday at Huntington Bank Stadium.

Brosmer said he will have approximately 25 family members and friends — from parents to grandparents, aunts, uncles and old teammates — in Minnesota to watch him play major college football for the first time.

“I’m super excited to not only see them, but also have them see me and my new team in a new light,” Brosmer said. “And show them we can compete at any level.”

Fleck noted Brosmer’s curiosity during Big Ten Media Days in Indianapolis in late July. Brosmer’s father, Colin, saw that trait emerge when Max was in elementary school. His eldest son was always asking a lot of questions.

“He wants to know why things are the way they are,” Colin Brosmer said. “That’s kind of the way his brain works. It’s extremely detail oriented. The quick answer isn’t always the answer that works for him.”

In particular, Max showed an interest in human biology, a fascination that turned into an avocation within his family. His mother, Jayna, and a grandmother are nurses.

“He’s always been interested in thinking about being a doctor, so any medical-type questions that might be going around the dinner table or the house, we definitely saw that early on,” Colin shared.

Coming out of Centennial High School in Roswell, Ga.,  Brosmer had some recruiting interest from schools in the now-Power Four conferences (including North Carolina), but was further down on their lists. Brosmer ended up picking New Hampshire, an FCS school, because it felt like the right fit.

“We were really big on trying to coach him to go where he was really wanted and not where was most flashy,” Colin Brosmer said. “It was all about trying to get on the field. At the end of the day, it was a lot of Ivy League (programs) and a couple of FCS schools.”

At New Hampshire, he was the first player in program history to start as a true freshman, and threw for 1,967 yards in 2019. After the pandemic, his sophomore season was lost to a torn anterior cruciate ligament in 2021. He threw for 3,157 yards his junior year and 3,464 last season, when he was a Walter Payton Award finalist for the top player in FCS. He completed 62 percent of his passes over his 36-game career.

Along the way, Brosmer earned an undergraduate degree in biomedical science and started work on a masters in kinesiology.

Weeks after Brosmer committed to transfer to Minnesota last December, he was pouring over the playbook in the build-up to the Quick Lane Bowl in Detroit. He impressed coaches with his immediate grasp.

“I ask a ton of questions,” Brosmer said. “I ask way too many questions. I overthink sometimes, and I’ve gotten better with that. … I think through every single thing that happens. I try to make the best decision possible.”

Brosmer’s eagerness to learn and become a better player led him to extra tutelage under quarterback trainer Quincy Avery starting in his freshman season at UNH. Avery, in turn, connected Brosmer with performance coach Seth Makowsky.

Makowsky has used chess to help a wide range of people — like NFL quarterbacks C.J. Stroud, Jalen Hurts and former Viking Josh Dobbs. That list also includes Dodgers star Mookie Betts, actor Cameron Diaz, members of UCLA’s football team and the USA artistic swim team. (Via Makowsky, Brosmer got to know U.S. silver medalist Anita Alvarez.)

“There’s ancient wisdom in this game that’s been around for thousands of years,” Makowsky told the L.A. Times in a 2023 story. “So we are able to kind of distill that and use the game as a vehicle for really importing a lot of lessons and concepts, and give them tools to navigate the good times and bad times.”

Brosmer started working with Makowsky when he was a freshman in college and now plays about 10 games a day. Every single day, he said.

“(Seth) uses that mindset to teach efficiency,” Brosmer told the Pioneer Press during Big Ten Media Days. “If this happens, what do you do next? … When you talk about football as a quarterback, you want to be a surgeon. Making quick moves (He snaps his fingers three times). You see one thing, you gotta go there.

“If you spend too much time thinking about little things that you see on the field that maybe don’t matter, then you’re caught in a cloud of like, ‘What do I do? What do I do?’ ” Brosmer said. “Then you are too slow. You have, like, three seconds to make a decision, maybe less.”

Gophers quarterback Max Brosmer speaks during an NCAA college football news conference at the Big Ten Conference media days at Lucas Oil Stadium, Thursday, July 25, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Brosmer wears a wristband that reads “threats and attacks.”

“For me, it’s chess, but it’s also on the football field,” Brosmer said. “It makes football chess, because you’re assessing where you’re getting threatened from, and then where you can attack. Chess is the same way.”

Chess necessitates for players to think multiple moves ahead, but also adjust if that plan is erased from the board by an opponent.

“You gotta be able to change direction and refocus your attack,” Brosmer said. “That same with football, ‘OK, I want to throw this route. I’m gonna throw it. All right, cool. Pre-snap, I have it. Post-snap, oh (shoot) they clouded it, let me go back to my cloud answer right now.’ Just knowing that in the back of your head.”

Brosmer often plays chess digitally, but also has been playing with Gophers offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Greg Harbaugh and others.

“It didn’t go well for me,” Harbaugh said. “He’s played a couple of guys. It doesn’t go well for them, either. He looks at chess as if you get one reaction from the secondary, you have to understand without looking at it and what is happening on the other side of the field or what the underneath defender is doing. He looks at chess that way. You have to be ahead on the next move.”

Harbaugh said in one chess game Brosmer purposely sacrificed his queen — the best and most versatile piece in the game. “He was like, ‘I’m going to beat you without the queen,’ ” Harbaugh said. “Then he beat me.”

Harbaugh walked into the team meeting room the other day to find Brosmer and guard Quinn Carroll playing Tic-tac-toe.

“He’s like, ‘(on) the third move, I’m going to win.’ Then he wins,” Harbaugh said. “He’s always like that. He’s always thinking. He’s a unique guy. It’s fun to be around.”

Carroll has seen Brosmer’s intelligence translate beyond his position on the practice field.

“He has an amazing depth of knowledge there,” Carroll said. “We will make the calls in (pass) protections specifically, and then if he sees something that we can’t see down in our stances, he can completely flip the protection for us. He understands it just as well as we do, so that has been huge.”

Harbaugh believes Brosmer’s leadership ability is his “superpower.” Brosmer mentioned a recent bonding dinner with the wide receivers at a Hibachi restaurant.

“How he can get people to come with him; That is probably what he is best at,” Harbaugh said. “Not mentioning anything he does football-wise.”

But like rave reviews a year ago about Kaliakmanis’ arm talent, execution in games is what will matter most. In spring ball, Brosmer admittedly had trouble throwing into tighter windows at the FBS level.

“You know it is going to close fast because of the level of athlete is different and it’s better,” Harbaugh said.

Harbaugh thought Brosmer was attempting to throw the ball too hard last spring, when a shift in ball trajectory was a better answer. He has seen his new QB figure it out through film study in the summer and in practices during fall camp.

“He’s rolling,” Harbaugh said last week. “He’s really in a good state mentally, which I’m really excited about.”

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PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron said Monday that the arrest in France of the CEO of the popular messaging app Telegram, Pavel Durov, wasn’t a political move but part of an independent investigation.

French media reported that Durov was detained at a Paris airport on Saturday on an arrest warrant alleging his platform has been used for money laundering, drug trafficking and other offenses. Durov is a citizen of Russia, France, the United Arab Emirates, and the Caribbean island nation of St. Kitts and Nevis.

In France’s first public comment on the arrest, Macron posted on the social media platform X that his country “is deeply committed” to freedom of expression but “freedoms are upheld within a legal framework, both on social media and in real life, to protect citizens and respect their fundamental rights.”

Denouncing what he called false information circulating about the arrest, he said it “is in no way a political decision. It is up to the judges to rule on the matter.”

Russian government officials have expressed outrage at Durov’s arrest, with some calling it politically driven and saying it showed the West’s double standard on freedom of speech.

Telegram, which says it has nearly a billion users worldwide, was founded by Durov and his brother in the wake of the Russian government’s crackdown after mass pro-democracy protests that rocked Moscow at the end of 2011 and 2012.

The demonstrations prompted Russian authorities to clamp down on the digital space, and Telegram and its pro-privacy rhetoric offered a convenient way for Russians to communicate and share news.

Telegram also continues to be a popular source of news in Ukraine, where both media outlets and officials use it to share information on the war, and deliver missile and air raid alerts.

In a statement posted on its platform after his arrest, Telegram said it abides by EU laws, and its moderation is “within industry standards and constantly improving.”

“It is absurd to claim that a platform or its owner are responsible for abuse of that platform,” Telegram’s post said. “Almost a billion users globally use Telegram as means of communication and as a source of vital information. We’re awaiting a prompt resolution of this situation. Telegram is with you all.”

A French investigative judge extended Durov’s detention order on Sunday night, French media reported on Monday. Under French law, Durov can remain in custody for questioning for up to four days. After that, judges must decide to either charge him or release him.

The Russian Embassy in Paris said consular officials were denied access to Durov because French authorities view his French citizenship as his primary one. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday, “We still don’t know what exactly Durov is being accused of. … Let’s wait until the charges are announced – if they are announced.”

Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of X who has in the past called himself a “ free speech absolutist,” posted “#freePavel” in support of Durov following the arrest.

Western governments have often criticized Telegram for a lack of content moderation, which experts say opens up the messaging platform for potential use in money laundering, drug trafficking and the sharing of material linked to the sexual exploitation of minors.

In 2022, Germany issued fines of $5 million against Telegram’s operators for failing to establish a lawful way to reporting illegal content or to name an entity in Germany to receive official communication. Both are required under German laws that regulate large online platforms.

Last year, Brazil temporarily suspended Telegram over its failure to surrender data on neo-Nazi activity related to a police inquiry into school shootings in November.

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Barbara Surk in Nice, France, and Daria Litvinova in Tallinn, Estonia contributed.