Pavel Durov, the Russian-born billionaire and CEO of the messaging app Telegram, has been indicted in France for allegedly permitting criminal activity on his platform, the Paris Prosecutor’s Office announced on Wednesday.
Charges and legal restrictions
Durov, 39, has been placed under judicial supervision and is barred from leaving France. He avoided jail by paying a bail of 5 million euros and must check in at a police station twice a week.
The indictment was issued shortly after Durov was released from police custody, following his arrest at Le Bourget airport near Paris on August 24. He was apprehended upon arrival on a private jet and subsequently detained in connection with an “ongoing judicial investigation.” French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed the arrest two days later.
Durov faces 12 charges related to allegations that he has been passive regarding cyber and financial crimes conducted on Telegram. These charges involve activities such as child pornography, drug trafficking, and fraudulent transactions. The Paris Prosecutor’s Office detailed these accusations on Monday.
President Macron’s statement
President Macron emphasized that the arrest was “not political,” reinforcing France’s commitment to freedom of expression, innovation, and the spirit of enterprise. “France is more than anything attached to freedom of expression and communication, to innovation, and to the spirit of enterprise. It will remain so,” Macron stated.
About Telegram
Telegram is a globally popular messaging app with approximately 800 million active users, particularly popular in Russia and Ukraine. Founded in 2013, Telegram was developed with a focus on privacy and security, featuring end-to-end encryption and various user privacy features. The app quickly rose to prominence, distinguishing itself from other messaging platforms like Facebook Messenger, WeChat, and WhatsApp with its strong stance on free speech and resistance to government censorship. Telegram has become a favored tool for activists and journalists due to its features like self-destructing messages, secret chats, and the ability to host large group chats of up to 200,000 users.
However, the app has faced criticism for being a platform for extremist groups and far-right organizations, which have used it for communication and coordination. Recently, the U.K. government criticized Telegram for its role in organizing riots across the country in July.
Background on Pavel Durov
Born in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg), Russia, in 1984, Pavel Durov began his career in tech entrepreneurship in 2006 with the creation of VKontakte (VK), a social network similar to Facebook that quickly became popular among Russian-speaking users. However, the platform’s success brought increased scrutiny from the Russian government, especially concerning demands for user data and control over opposition groups. In 2014, Durov left VK after refusing to shut down pages related to opposition leader Alexei Navalny and other anti-government communities.
After leaving Russia, Durov moved to Dubai and focused on developing Telegram, which he had founded in 2013. Durov, who frequently travels between Europe and the United Arab Emirates, was granted French citizenship in 2021.
Reactions to Durov’s Arrest
Durov’s arrest has sparked significant reactions on social media. Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, posted “#FreePavel” on X (formerly Twitter), sharing a video clip of Durov’s previous interview with Tucker Carlson.
Edward Snowden, the U.S. whistleblower, also condemned the arrest, calling it “an assault on the basic human rights of speech and association.” He expressed surprise and disappointment at President Macron’s actions, stating, “I am surprised and deeply saddened that Macron has descended to the level of taking hostages as a means for gaining access to private communications. It lowers not only France, but the world.”
The indictment of Pavel Durov represents a significant development in the ongoing global conversation about the responsibilities of tech platforms in regulating content and preventing criminal activities online.