France has formally charged Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of Telegram, with multiple violations related to the messaging app.
These charges include failing to control extremist and illegal content, and he has been barred from leaving France while being released on bail after four days of detention.
Durov, 39, faces accusations ranging from complicity in managing an online platform for illicit transactions to refusing to provide requested documents to authorities.
Additional charges include the dissemination of child pornography, drug trafficking, fraud, and money laundering. He is also under investigation for “serious acts of violence” towards one of his children, a case which has led to a separate complaint in Switzerland filed by the child’s mother.
Following his arrest at Le Bourget airport near Paris on Saturday, Durov was questioned by investigators over several days.
Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau stated that Durov was granted conditional release on a five million euro bail, with the requirement to report to a police station twice a week and remain in France.
Durov, who founded Telegram while leaving Russia a decade ago, has seen the app grow to over 900 million users. Telegram has defended Durov, asserting that holding him accountable for misuse of the platform is unjust. The tech mogul, who holds citizenship in Russia, France, and the UAE, is known for his ascetic lifestyle and substantial fortune, estimated at $15.5 billion by Forbes.
Questions have been raised about the timing and reasons behind Durov’s detention. Supporters view him as a defender of free speech, while critics accuse him of allowing Telegram to become uncontrolled. French President Emmanuel Macron, who has met Durov several times and even suggested Paris as a headquarters for Telegram, has stated that the arrest was not politically motivated.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has called for serious evidence to support the charges. Elon Musk has voiced support for Durov under the hashtag “#FreePavel.”
Telegram, known for its stance as a neutral alternative to U.S.-owned platforms, faces scrutiny for its alleged lack of response to requests from French authorities. The investigation into Durov’s activities began in February 2024.
