Telegram CEO Pavel Durov Charged by French Authorities, Released Under Judicial Supervision
Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of Telegram, was released from custody after being charged by French authorities. Following a court appearance, Durov was placed under judicial supervision and prohibited from leaving France.
According to a report from Bloomberg on August 28, French prosecutors confirmed that Durov was charged with criminal offenses related to his leadership role at Telegram. He was required to post bail of 5 million euros ($5.5 million) before being released.
A widely circulated video from Russian state-owned news outlet RIA Novosti captured Durov leaving a Paris courthouse on August 28.
Durov was detained by police at an airport north of Paris on August 24 and was held in custody until August 28, when he was either to be charged in court or released.
Prosecutors stated that Durov’s detention was part of a judicial investigation initiated in July “against person unnamed.” The charges brought against him include complicity in illegal activities, refusal to cooperate with authorities, money laundering, criminal association, and providing cryptology services without proper declaration.
French prosecutors accused Durov of facilitating the spread of child pornography and other illicit activities through Telegram. Additionally, he reportedly faces unrelated child abuse allegations in Switzerland.
Free Speech Concerns
Many of Durov’s supporters have criticized French authorities for detaining the Telegram CEO, arguing that the move represents an assault on freedom of expression.
As of 2024, Telegram boasted over 900 million monthly active users. Durov’s legal situation could set a significant precedent for other social media leaders, such as Mark Zuckerberg or Elon Musk, holding them accountable for illegal activities conducted on their platforms.
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