Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of Telegram, is currently facing legal challenges in France. He has been accused of enabling criminal activities through his messaging platform and is prohibited from leaving the country until the investigation concludes.
The 39-year-old billionaire was apprehended last Saturday at Le Bourget airport near Paris as part of an extensive legal investigation initiated last month encompassing 12 alleged criminal offenses.
He was released on Wednesday, August, 28, after four days of questioning.
On Wednesday evening, the investigative judges submitted the preliminary accusations and mandated a €5 million bail payment and biweekly reporting to a police station.
Allegations against the Russia-born Durov, who is a French citizen, include that his platform is being used for child sexual abuse material and drug trafficking and that Telegram refused to share information or documents with investigators when required by law.
The recent arrest of Durov in France has elicited strong reactions in Russia, with certain government officials expressing concerns regarding its potential political motivations and highlighting perceived inconsistencies in the West’s approach to freedom of speech.
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday that Durov’s arrest wasn’t a political move but part of an independent investigation.
Macron posted on 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.’
In a statement posted on its platform after Durov’s 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 is responsible for the abuse of that platform,’ Telegram’s post said.
‘Almost a billion users globally use Telegram as a means of communication and as a source of vital information. We’re awaiting a prompt resolution of this situation. Telegram is with you all.’
In addition to Russia and France, Durov is also a citizen of the United Arab Emirates and the Caribbean island nation of St. Kitts and Nevis.
The UAE Foreign Ministry said Tuesday that it was ‘closely following the case’ and had asked France to provide Durov ‘with all the necessary consular services in an urgent manner.’
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov expressed his hope that Durov has all the requisite opportunities for his legal defense. He further stated that Moscow is prepared to offer all necessary assistance and support to the Telegram CEO in his capacity as a Russian citizen.
The situation is further complicated by the fact that he also holds French citizenship, Peskov noted.
