Author: Turner Wright, CoinTelegraph; Translated by: Wuzhu, Golden Finance
Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov has been released from custody after being charged by French authorities and placed under judicial supervision following a court appearance.
French prosecutors said they had indicted Durov on criminal charges related to his role at Telegram, Bloomberg reported on August 28. He is banned from leaving France and required to post a €5 million (approximately $5.5 million at the time of publication) bail to be released.
A widely circulated video from Russian state-run news outlet RIA Novosti showed Durov being released from a Paris court on August 28.
Police brought Durov to court after he was detained at Paris North Airport on August 24. Authorities initially extended the Telegram CEO's detention until August 28, when he would either be released or face charges in court.
Following his arrest, prosecutors said the Telegram founder had been detained since July as part of a judicial investigation into "unnamed persons." The charges included participation in illegal activities, refusal to communicate with authorities, money laundering, criminal association, and providing crypto services without prior declaration.
French prosecutors have accused Durov of participating in the distribution of child pornography and facilitating illegal activities via Telegram. He also reportedly faces child abuse charges in Switzerland unrelated to the French case.
Free speech allegations
Many of Durov's defenders have criticized French authorities for detaining the Telegram CEO, claiming the move was an attack on free speech.
Telegram has more than 900 million monthly active users as of 2024. Durov's defense in court of users of the messaging app engaging in illegal activity or sharing illegal content could set a precedent for heads of social media companies like Mark Zuckerberg or Elon Musk.
French President Emmanuel Macron denied that Durov's arrest was politically motivated, but four days later, many questions appear to remain.
