Telegram founder Pavel Durov is currently under formal investigation and has been barred from leaving France, according to a statement released by a French prosecutor on Wednesday night.
Durov, who was born in Russia, is being scrutinized for his alleged involvement in several criminal activities facilitated through his platform. These allegations include complicity in illegal gang transactions, “laundering of crimes in an organized gang,” and refusal to cooperate with authorities by withholding information, as per the prosecutor’s statement.
As part of the investigation, Durov has been placed under judicial supervision in France. His bail has been set at €5 million (approximately $5.56 million), and he is required to report to a French police station twice a week.
Earlier in the day, Durov was released from police custody in France and subsequently taken to court for further questioning. His detention followed a dramatic arrest at Paris’s Bourget Airport on Saturday. The formal investigation initiated on Wednesday does not equate to a formal charge, but it does indicate that French prosecutors believe there is substantial evidence to warrant a serious investigation.
The French National Office for Minors has also raised concerns with the prosecutor’s office, citing Telegram’s “near absence of response” to court requests related to serious offenses, including trafficking, online hate speech, and crimes involving pedophilia.
The offenses under investigation could lead to severe legal consequences. One of the most serious charges Durov could face is “complicity in the administration of a platform enabling an illegal transaction in an organized gang,” which carries a potential maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
Durov, 39, was detained over allegations that Telegram’s lack of moderation has enabled a range of criminal activities, including fraud, drug trafficking, and the distribution of child pornography. The platform has also faced criticism for being used by terrorist groups and far-right extremists.
Durov’s arrest, which allowed authorities to hold him for up to 96 hours without charges, has sparked a significant debate over freedom of speech. This development has caused concern in Ukraine and Russia, where Telegram is a critical communication tool, especially during the ongoing conflict between the two nations.
Russia has strongly condemned Durov’s detention in France. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova criticized Paris, stating, “It seems to me that all this has once again demonstrated the true attitude of the French leadership, which has blatantly trampled on international norms in the field of protecting freedom of speech and expression, for only one reason – because if they protect certain standards, they must not only comply with them, they must protect and implement them.”
In response to rising concerns in Russia about the future of Telegram, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov sought to reassure users, urging them not to delete sensitive messages from the app.
