Telegram CEO Pavel Durov charged and released, barred from leaving France

Pavel Durov, the creator and CEO of the popular messaging platform Telegram, has been released on bail after being detained and formally charged by authorities in France, following his court appearance.

An article from Bloomberg dated August 28 indicated that the French legal system has accused Durov of several criminal activities connected to his operational roles at Telegram. He is not allowed to leave the country and has been mandated to secure his release with a 5 million euro bail ($5.5 million).

Russian government-controlled RIA Novosti released a video that captured Durov exiting a courthouse in Paris on the same day.

Durov was apprehended at an airport to the north of Paris on August 24 and was transported to court by police. Initially, his detention was extended to August 28, the day he was slated for a possible release or to answer to charges.

Following his detention, officials declared that Durov was under investigation since July for a series of accusations, including aiding in unlawful acts, failing to cooperate with legal authorities, money laundering, engaging in criminal activities, and operating cryptographic services without the necessary legal notices.

Prosecutors in France have charged Durov with facilitating the distribution of child pornography and other illegal actions via Telegram. Additionally, he is facing separate accusations of child abuse in Switzerland, which are not connected to the charges in France.

Free speech allegations

Durov’s arrest has sparked significant criticism from his supporters, who argue that this is an infringement on freedom of speech, seeing it as an assault by French officials.

As of 2024, Telegram boasted over 900 million monthly active users. The implications of Durov’s legal challenges could set a legal benchmark that might affect other technology executives, including social media giants like Mark Zuckerberg or Elon Musk.

Despite the controversy, French President Emmanuel Macron has stated that Durov’s detention was not politically motivated. Nonetheless, the situation leaves many unresolved questions after four days since the incident.

For more news, find us at Twitter.

What is your opinion on this particular topic?  Leave us your comment below!  We are always interested in your opinion!