Telegram CEO Arrested by French Authorities, Released on Bail
French authorities have issued preliminary charges against Pavel Durov after detaining and questioning him regarding alleged illegal activities on the platform.
On Aug. 28, French authorities issued preliminary charges against Telegram CEO Pavel Durov, accusing him of allowing criminal activity on the messaging app.
The decision to charge him came after Durov was detained at Paris–Le Bourget Airport four days earlier when he arrived from Azerbaijan on his private jet.
Following his release from police custody on Aug. 28, Durov was ordered to appear in court for further proceedings.
A French court also required Durov to post 5 million euros ($5.5 million) in bail and report to a police station twice a week, as stated by the Paris prosecutor’s office.
The allegations against Durov, a Russian-born French citizen, include claims that Telegram is used for illicit activities such as child sexual abuse and drug trafficking, with the platform allegedly failing to cooperate with investigators.
One of the charges accuses Durov of “complicity in managing an online platform for illicit transactions by an organized group,” which could result in a prison sentence of up to 10 years and a fine of up to 500 million euros ($556 million).
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At this time, Durov is the sole individual facing charges, although there is a possibility of others also being charged, according to French prosecutors.
Under the French legal system, preliminary charges indicate that judges deem there is sufficient evidence of a crime to proceed with an investigation. The investigative process can be lengthy before a trial is conducted or the case is closed. The judicial system in France operates differently from that of many other countries, with judges taking a more active role in investigating and prosecuting crimes.
Telegram is a messaging app that allows for private conversations, group chats, and channels with hundreds of participants. Unlike WhatsApp, Telegram’s group chats have a limit of up to 200,000 members.
In a statement following Durov’s arrest on Aug. 25, Telegram asserted that it complies with EU laws concerning online services, including the Digital Services Act.
“It is unreasonable to hold a platform or its owner responsible for misuse of that platform,” stated Telegram in its response.
On Aug. 26, Telegram posted a statement indicating that Durov “has nothing to hide and travels frequently in Europe.”
In addition to his French and Russian citizenship, Durov is also a citizen of the UAE and Saint Kitts and Nevis.
The UAE Foreign Ministry expressed its close monitoring of the case on Aug. 27 and urged France to provide Durov with necessary consular services promptly.
Russian Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov voiced hope that Durov has the necessary means for his legal defense and stated that the Moscow government is prepared to support the tech entrepreneur.
In an interview in April, Durov mentioned that he left Russia and started Telegram after resisting pressure from Moscow to disclose information about Ukrainian users of Vkontakte, another platform he co-founded.
“The detention of the Telegram CEO in France occurred as part of an ongoing legal investigation,” he stated. “It is not politically motivated, and the decision lies with the judiciary.”
The arrest has raised concerns within the tech industry.
“If upheld, it would deter tech founders from visiting or hiring in France,” he remarked. “This would negatively impact the perception of founders and investors.”
The Epoch Times has contacted Telegram for their response to the charges.
Chris Summers, Reuters, and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
