Pavel Durov, the CEO of Telegram, was released from detention by French authorities on August 28. He had been arrested by French police on accusations related to alleged illegal activities on the Telegram platform. A judge ended the police detention order against Durov for preliminary questioning. However, he may still face prosecution in the future. The case remains ongoing, and Durov, a Russian businessman, could potentially be detained again.
Durov was taken into custody by French police on August 24 upon his arrival at Le Bourget Airport from Azerbaijan. The arrest followed an investigation by the French Anti-Fraud Force, which looked into criminal activities allegedly conducted on Telegram, such as drug trafficking, fraud, money laundering, distribution of child sexual abuse material, abetting criminal transactions, and refusal to cooperate with law enforcement.
In response to the investigation, Telegram emphasized that it complies with the law, including the Digital Services Act, and stated that holding a platform or its owner responsible for abuses of the platform is unreasonable.
According to French law, Durov could only be detained by the police for a maximum of 96 hours before charges are filed. It’s important to note that being placed under official investigation in France does not imply guilt or guaranteeing a trial; it simply means that the judge believes there is enough evidence to continue the investigation. Investigations of this nature can take years before they result in a trial or are dismissed.
Durov’s arrest has raised questions regarding freedom of expression, particularly in Ukraine and Russia, where Telegram is widely used, including by the military and individuals in the context of the ongoing conflict between the two countries.
French President Emmanuel Macron stated on August 26 that the decision to prosecute Durov was “absolutely not political,” marking a rare instance of a French leader commenting on a judicial issue.
Telegram, launched by Durov and his brother Nikolai in 2013, has grown into one of the world’s most widely used messaging platforms, boasting over 950 million users as of July 2024, according to recent information provided by Durov.