Telegram’s Pavel Durov released from police custody, faces charges in France

Telegram founder Pavel Durov has been released from police custody so that a formal investigation can begin into allegations against him in France, prosecutors in Paris said on Wednesday.

The 39-year-old Russian-born entrepreneur, who also holds French nationality, has been released but is under judicial supervision.

He must also pay a bail of 5 million euros, report to a French police station twice a week and is not allowed to leave France.

LEADERSHIP previously reported that Durov was arrested last Saturday at Le Bourget airport, near Paris, on an arrest warrant in connection with alleged criminal activity on Telegram.

Telegram CEO Pavel Durov arrested over alleged drug trafficking, others in France

Durov will be formally questioned on charges bordering on complicity in facilitating illegal transactions by organized criminal gangs and refusal to cooperate with authorities.

Telegram has been accused of refusing to share crucial information with investigators and of being involved in the distribution of child abuse material.

The Paris Public Prosecutor’s Office said: “An investigating judge has ended Pavel Durov’s police detention and will bring him before the judge for a first appearance and possible charges.”

Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau confirmed that Durov had to pay a significant bail amount and report regularly to local authorities.

Beccuau added that Telegram is involved in several criminal cases in France, including cases involving child sexual abuse, drug trafficking and online hate crimes.

According to the prosecutor, the platform has shown an “almost total absence” of cooperation with prosecutors and key authorities in France and other European countries to investigate the possible criminal liability of its executives.

“Public prosecutors across France, as well as judicial authorities in Belgium and other European countries, have shared the same observation,” Beccuau said.

In France, complex criminal cases like these are handled by special judges with broad investigative powers. These judges can charge suspects if the evidence points to serious misconduct, but can also drop charges if the evidence is deemed insufficient.

It is therefore unlikely that Durov’s case will be solved quickly. If found guilty, Durov could face up to 10 years in prison.

According to LEADERSHIP, Durov’s arrest has caused international controversy.

In Russia, some officials have criticized it as politically motivated and a reflection of Western double standards on freedom of expression.

The sentiment echoes Russia’s failed attempt in 2018 to block Telegram, a ban that was lifted in 2020. By contrast, Iran, where Telegram is banned but widely used, saw the arrest as a sign of France’s tough stance on internet governance violations.

However, French President Emmanuel Macron stressed that Durov’s arrest was part of an independent investigation and not a political plot.

Macron stated on X: “Our country is very committed to freedom of expression, but freedoms are maintained within a legal framework to protect citizens and their fundamental rights.”

In response, Telegram released a statement reaffirming its compliance with EU laws and industry standards. The platform argued: “It is absurd to claim that a platform or its owner is responsible for the misuse of that platform. Nearly a billion users worldwide use Telegram as a means of communication and as a source of essential information. We await a swift resolution of this situation.”

The UAE Foreign Ministry says it is closely monitoring the case and has asked France to provide Durov with the necessary consular services.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, for his part, expressed hope that Durov will receive adequate legal defense and pointed out that Russia is ready to provide support, despite the complexities arising from the Telegram CEO’s French citizenship.

Telegram, which Durov co-founded after leaving VKontakte, a site he sold in 2013 under pressure from Russian authorities, has become a major platform for both pro-democracy activists and news dissemination in Ukraine.

The platform’s lack of content moderation has led to criticism and legal action, including a $5 million fine from Germany in 2022 for failing to comply with regulations around reporting illegal content.