French authorities have formally charged Pavel Durov, CEO and co-founder of the messaging app Telegram, with several violations related to the platform’s operations.
According to reports, Durov, a 39-year-old billionaire with Franco-Russian citizenship, was arrested on August 24, 2024, at Le Bourget airport near Paris. The arrest was made under a warrant alleging his involvement in various criminal activities facilitated through Telegram.
The charges against Durov include complicity in managing an online platform that enables illegal transactions, refusal to cooperate with authorities by withholding requested documents, and the distribution of child pornography images. He is also accused of facilitating drug trafficking, fraud, and money laundering through the app.
Despite the seriousness of these allegations, Durov was released on bail set at five million euros. As part of his conditional release, he must remain in France, check in at a police station twice weekly, and is not allowed to leave the country, according to a statement from Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau.
The investigation by French judicial authorities into Telegram’s operations began in February 2024 due to concerns over the platform’s lack of cooperation with law enforcement requests.
