Telegram boss Pavel Durov is being prosecuted in France, news agency AFP reported on Wednesday. He is suspected of complicity in the distribution of child pornography and other crimes. Durov will be released, but will be placed under judicial supervision.
Durov, 39, had to pay a €5 million bail to be released. He is not allowed to leave France for the time being.
Prosecutors say Durov failed to take sufficient action against criminal acts that took place on the Telegram messaging service, such as fraud, money laundering and the distribution of child pornography. In addition, the businessman allegedly failed to cooperate with authorities when they requested information about Telegram users.
Durov was arrested at Le Bourget airport, just outside Paris, around 8 p.m. Saturday. The Russian embassy in Paris said Sunday it had been denied access to the Telegram founder. “We immediately asked the French authorities for an explanation of his detention. We also demanded protection of his rights and consular assistance,” the Russian embassy said, according to state news agency Ria Novosti . “For the time being, the French side refuses to cooperate in this matter.”
Durov has multiple passports, although it is not clear which ones. He was born in Russia and also has French nationality. According to the Telegram website, he has a French passport. He also has a passport from the United Arab Emirates, where he lives. It does not say whether he has Russian identity, but the Russian government claims that he does.
Not a political decision according to Macron
According to Telegram, founder Durov has nothing to hide. The company finds it “absurd” to hold him responsible for abuse of the platform. “Telegram follows EU legislation, such as the Digital Services Act. The moderation meets industry standards and is constantly improving,” Telegram said.
French President Emmanuel Macron wrote earlier on X that the arrest was “in no way a political decision”. He said he was responding to disinformation circulating about the arrest.
“France is very committed to freedom of expression, to innovation and to entrepreneurship. That will remain the case,” Macron said, adding that it is up to the judges to rule on Durov.
