Telegram founder Pavel Durov was released from police custody in France on Wednesday, August 28, and has been transferred to court for questioning ahead of a possible indictment. This development comes days after the Russian-born billionaire was arrested at a Paris airport.
Reports indicate that Durov departed from the anti-fraud office outside Paris in what seemed to be a police vehicle on Wednesday afternoon. The Paris prosecutor’s office has announced that he will now undergo “initial questioning and possible indictment” at a court in the French capital.
Durov, aged 39, was detained at Paris’s Bourget Airport on Saturday based on a warrant related to Telegram’s lack of content moderation. He is under investigation for various charges, including accusations that his platform has been involved in facilitating fraud, drug trafficking, and the distribution of child pornography.
Telegram’s lack of moderation has also drawn criticism for its use by terrorist groups and far-right extremists. Durov was held in custody for up to 96 hours, the maximum period allowed under French law before charges must be filed.
The arrest has sparked a debate over freedom of speech, particularly concerning its impact in Ukraine and Russia, where Telegram is a vital communication tool amid the ongoing conflict between Moscow and its neighbour.
French President Emmanuel Macron commented on Monday that the decision to charge Durov was “in no way political,” marking a rare instance of a French leader commenting on a judicial matter.
Telegram was launched in 2013 by Pavel Durov and his brother Nikolai. As of last month, the app has more than 950 million users, making it one of the most widely used messaging platforms in the world.
Conversations on Telegram are encrypted, ensuring that neither law enforcement agencies nor Telegram itself can access users’ messages.
