Russian-born Pavel Durov, CEO of Telegram, has been placed under formal investigation in France. His arrest is part of a broader investigation into organized crime activities on the social media and messaging app Telegram.
Durov was detained after arriving in Paris on a private jet on Saturday. This detention has sparked discussions about the legal responsibilities of app providers and the balance between freedom of speech and law enforcement. On Wednesday, French judicial authorities placed Durov, who holds French citizenship, under formal investigation for allegedly failing to cooperate with criminal investigations and facilitating criminal activities on Telegram, among other charges.
The charges against Durov include suspected complicity in managing an online platform that enables illicit transactions, sharing of child sexual abuse materials, drug trafficking, and fraud. Additionally, he is accused of refusing to provide information to authorities, engaging in money laundering, and offering cryptographic services to criminals.
Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau stated that an investigative judge found sufficient grounds to formally investigate all the charges that led to Durov’s initial arrest. The investigation was initiated by the cybercrime unit of the Paris prosecutor’s office in February 2024 due to Telegram’s lack of cooperation with law enforcement.
Other French investigative agencies, public prosecutors, and partners within Eurojust, particularly from Belgium, have also expressed concerns about Telegram’s non-compliance with legal requests.
Durov’s lawyer, David-Olivier Kaminski, dismissed the allegations as “absurd,” arguing that Telegram fully complies with European digital technology regulations. He emphasized that being placed under formal investigation does not imply guilt and may not necessarily lead to a trial.
Bail and Restrictions
Durov was granted bail on the condition that he pay a five-million-euro ($5.56 million) deposit. He must also check in with the police twice a week and is prohibited from leaving France.