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| Image From CNN |
Telegram founder Pavel Durov is currently under formal investigation in France and has been prohibited from leaving the country, according to a statement released Wednesday night by a French prosecutor.
The Russian-born tech billionaire is being investigated for multiple alleged offenses, including complicity in illegal gang activities, money laundering in organized crime, and refusal to cooperate with authorities. These accusations stem from criminal activities reportedly taking place on the Telegram platform.
As part of the investigation, Durov is required to remain in France under judicial supervision, with bail set at €5 million ($5.56 million). He must also report to a French police station twice a week.
Earlier on Wednesday, Durov was released from police custody in France and taken to court for further questioning. This followed his arrest days earlier at Paris’s Bourget Airport, a dramatic incident that has since attracted significant attention.
Although the formal investigation was announced, this does not mean that Durov has been formally charged. In the French legal system, such an investigation indicates that prosecutors believe there is enough evidence to warrant a serious inquiry, but it does not imply guilt.
The prosecutor’s office also mentioned that the French National Office for Minors has criticized Telegram for its lack of cooperation with court requests related to serious offenses, including trafficking, online hate speech, and crimes involving pedophilia.
The offenses being investigated include "complicity in the administration of a platform enabling illegal transactions within an organized gang," which could result in a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
Durov, 39, was initially detained at Bourget Airport on Saturday based on a warrant concerning Telegram’s lack of content moderation. He is accused of allowing the platform to be used for various criminal activities, including fraud, drug trafficking, and the dissemination of child pornography.
Telegram has faced increasing scrutiny over its content moderation policies, particularly regarding its use by terrorist organizations and far-right extremists.
Durov was held in custody for up to 96 hours, the maximum duration allowed under French law before charges must be filed.
The arrest has sparked a debate over freedom of speech, raising concerns in both Ukraine and Russia. Telegram has become an essential communication tool in these countries, particularly during the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Russia has criticized France for Durov’s detention, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova accusing the French leadership of violating international norms regarding freedom of speech and expression.
In response to growing concerns about Telegram’s future in Russia, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov urged users not to panic or delete sensitive messages on the app.
French President Emmanuel Macron addressed the issue on Monday, emphasizing that the decision to investigate Durov was "in no way political," marking an unusual intervention by a French leader in judicial matters.
Telegram, launched in 2013 by Durov and his brother Nikolai, has grown into one of the world’s most popular messaging platforms, boasting over 950 million users as of last month. The app’s encrypted messaging service ensures that law enforcement and even Telegram itself have limited oversight of user content.
Durov, who was born in the Soviet Union in 1984, earned the nickname "Mark Zuckerberg of Russia" in his 20s. He left Russia in 2014 and now resides in Dubai, where Telegram is headquartered. He also holds French citizenship and is worth an estimated $9.15 billion, according to Bloomberg. Despite his app's reputation for enabling free speech, critics argue that it has become a haven for illicit activities, including the planning of the November 2015 Paris terror attacks.
You cannot make it safe against criminals and open for governments,” Durov told CNN in 2016. “It’s either secure or not secure.
