Telegram Founder Pavel Durov Transferred from Police Custody to Court in France
Telegram founder Pavel Durov was released from police custody in France on Wednesday, August 28, and transferred to court for questioning ahead of a potential indictment. This follows his recent arrest at a Paris airport, according to French prosecutors.
Durov was seen leaving the anti-fraud office outside Paris in what appeared to be a police vehicle. The Paris prosecutor’s office confirmed that he would now undergo “initial questioning and possible indictment” at a court in the French capital.
The 39-year-old Durov was detained at Paris’s Bourget Airport on Saturday under a warrant related to Telegram’s lack of content moderation. He faces investigations on multiple charges, including allegations that his platform facilitated fraud, drug trafficking, and the distribution of child pornography.
Telegram’s minimal content moderation has also drawn criticism for its use by terrorist groups and far-right extremists.
Durov was held in custody for up to 96 hours, the maximum allowed under French law before formal charges must be filed.
His arrest has sparked a debate over freedom of speech and raised concerns in Ukraine and Russia, where Telegram is widely used for communication, especially among military personnel and civilians amidst the ongoing conflict between Moscow and Kyiv.
French President Emmanuel Macron stated on Monday that the decision to charge Durov was “in no way political,” marking a rare intervention by a French leader in a judicial matter.
Telegram, founded in 2013 by Durov and his brother Nikolai, now boasts over 950 million users, making it one of the world’s most popular messaging platforms. Conversations on the app are encrypted, preventing law enforcement and Telegram itself from accessing user content.