Paris, 29 August 2024 (TDI): Telegram CEO and founder Pavel Durov has been placed under formal probe in France as part of an investigation into organized crime on the messaging app, Paris prosecutors said.
Durov, 39, has not been remanded in custody, but placed under judicial supervision, and has to pay a €5 million (5.6 million dollars) deposit.
The Russian-born billionaire, who is also a French national, also has to show up at a police station in France twice a week and is not allowed to leave the country.
Durov was first arrested upon landing at Le Bourget airport north of Paris on Saturday under a warrant for accusations related to the app.
In Wednesday’s statement, the Paris prosecutors said that Durov was put under formal probe over alleged offences that included complicity in the administration of an online platform to enable illicit transactions by an organized gang, refusal to communicate with officlas and complicity in organized criminal distribution of children’s sexual images.
In France, being put under formal probe does not imply guilt or necessarily result in a trial – but it indicates that judges consider there is enough of a case to proceed with an investigation.
Also Read More: Telegram CEO Accused On 12 Criminal Charges in France
Durov has so far made no public statement on the latest developments.
His lawyer, David-Olivier Kaminski, said Telegram complied in every respect with European digital regulations and was moderated to the same rules as other social networks.
It was “absurd” to suggest his client could be involved “in criminal acts that do not concern him either directly or indirectly, he added.
It is unprecedented for the owner of a social media company to be arrested because of the way in which that platform is being used, and it has fuelled a fierce debate online about accountability and freedom of speech.
