Telegram CEO Pavel Durov Set to Appear in French Court After Weekend Arrest

Originally, he was detained during a probe regarding suspected criminal activities that were potentially coordinated or disseminated via Telegram. These crimes encompassed money laundering, narcotics distribution, peddling of child pornography, and refusal to comply with the law enforcement.

According to spokesperson and deputy prosecutor, Maylis De Roeck, the investigating judge has granted bail to Pavel Durov and ordered him to appear in court for an initial hearing and potential indictment.

Based on a document released by French authorities this week, Durov is facing accusations that include assisting in the operation of an online platform facilitating illegal transactions, failing to provide police with requested documents or communications during ongoing investigations, aiding in the spread of child exploitation content, and numerous other charges.

He’s also being accused of providing encryption services without embedding controls in Telegram.

In response to Durov’s arrest, Telegram emphasized that they comply with the regulations set forth by the European Union and their operations fall in line with standard industry practices.

In their statement, Telegram expressed that it’s illogical to hold a platform or its operator accountable for misuse occurring on the platform itself.