Telegram Billionaire Pavel Durov Charged with Enabling Criminal Activity on His App, Barred from Leaving France
Telegram’s owner, Pavel Durov, has been formally charged with facilitating criminal activity on his messaging platform and has been prohibited from leaving France while the investigation continues.
The 39-year-old billionaire was detained last Saturday at Le Bourget airport, near Paris, as part of a broad judicial inquiry initiated last month that involves 12 alleged criminal offenses.
After four days of interrogation, Durov was released on Wednesday, August 28. Investigative judges filed the preliminary charges that same night, setting his bail at 5 million euros and requiring him to report to a police station twice a week.
The accusations against Russia-born Durov, who holds French citizenship, include claims that Telegram is being used for child sexual abuse material and drug trafficking. Additionally, it is alleged that Telegram refused to provide information or documents to investigators as required by law.
Durov’s arrest has sparked outrage in Russia, with some government officials condemning it as politically motivated and indicative of Western double standards regarding freedom of speech.
French President Emmanuel Macron, however, stated on Monday that Durov’s arrest was not politically driven but was part of an independent investigation. Macron reiterated in a post on X that France is “deeply committed” to freedom of expression but that these freedoms must operate within a legal framework to protect citizens and uphold their fundamental rights.
Following Durov’s arrest, Telegram issued a statement asserting that the platform complies with EU laws and that its moderation practices are “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 statement read. “Nearly a billion users worldwide rely on Telegram for communication and vital information. We are looking forward to a swift resolution of this matter. Telegram stands with all its users.”
In addition to holding citizenship in 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 stated on Tuesday that it is “closely monitoring the case” and has requested that France urgently provide Durov with all necessary consular services.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov expressed hope that Durov “has all the necessary opportunities for his legal defense” and indicated that Moscow is “ready to provide all necessary assistance and support” to the Telegram CEO as a Russian citizen.
However, Peskov acknowledged that the situation is complicated by Durov’s French citizenship.
