On Wednesday, French authorities charged Pavel Durov, the founder and chief executive of the popular messaging app Telegram, with several violations, including failing to control extremist and illegal content on the platform. The Russian-born entrepreneur, who now holds French citizenship, was banned from leaving France and ordered to remain in the country under conditional release after four days in custody.
Durov, 39, was arrested on Saturday at Le Bourget airport near Paris and subsequently questioned by investigators. He was released on bail set at five million euros and is required to report to a police station twice a week. The Paris prosecutor, Laure Beccuau, stated that Durov faces charges related to “complicity in the administration of an online platform to enable an illicit transaction,” alongside allegations of refusing to provide documents requested by authorities. Other charges include “dissemination in an organised group of images of minors in child pornography,” drug trafficking, fraud, and money laundering.
Durov’s lawyer, David-Olivier Kaminski, described the charges as “absurd,” arguing that it is unreasonable to hold Durov personally accountable for illegal activities conducted on Telegram. Kaminski emphasized that Telegram adheres to all European digital technology regulations.
In addition to these charges, Durov is under investigation for “serious acts of violence” towards one of his children. The allegations emerged from a separate complaint filed by the child’s mother, Durov’s ex-partner, who had also lodged a complaint against him in Switzerland last year.
Durov, who founded Telegram after leaving Russia about a decade ago, has seen the app grow to over 900 million users worldwide. Known for his secretive nature and minimalist lifestyle, which includes practices like ice baths and abstaining from alcohol and coffee, Durov is a citizen of Russia, France, and the United Arab Emirates, where Telegram is currently based. His wealth is estimated at $15.5 billion by Forbes.
The timing and circumstances of Durov’s arrest have sparked debate, with some supporters viewing him as a defender of free speech, while critics argue he has allowed Telegram to become a hub for illegal activities. French newspaper Le Monde reported that Durov had met President Emmanuel Macron on several occasions before obtaining French nationality in 2021. Reports suggest that Macron had once proposed that Telegram be headquartered in Paris, a suggestion that Durov declined.
Both Pavel Durov and his brother Nikolai, a less public figure credited with being the technical mastermind behind Telegram, have been sought by French authorities since March 2024. Despite suggestions that Durov’s arrest may have political undertones, President Macron clarified on X (formerly Twitter) that the arrest was “in no way a political decision,” stressing that the matter is for the judicial system to resolve.
In Russia, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov acknowledged the gravity of the charges and called for substantial evidence. Meanwhile, Elon Musk, CEO of X, expressed his support for Durov with the hashtag #FreePavel and criticized the charges through a meme referencing France’s motto, “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity.”
Durov’s departure from Russia in the early 2010s, amidst a dispute over the control of VKontakte, his first major project, was not a sudden exile. Reports indicate he visited Russia multiple times between 2015 and 2021. Telegram has since positioned itself as a neutral alternative to other platforms, emphasizing user privacy and has been notably active during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, being used by various stakeholders in the conflict.
The investigation into Durov and Telegram by French authorities began in February 2024 after what the Paris prosecutor described as a “near total absence of a response” from Telegram to multiple requests from law enforcement.
