French authorities on Wednesday filed charges against Telegram CEO Pavel Durov for allegedly allowing criminal activities on his messaging app.
Durov was arrested on Saturday at Le Bourget airport outside Paris as part of an investigation launched last month into 12 suspected criminal offences. Durov was released from police custody after four days of questioning in connection with the allegations.
However, Durov is now facing preliminary charges of “complicity in the management of an online platform to facilitate illegal transactions by an organized group.” This crime carries a prison sentence of up to ten years and a fine of 500,000 euros, the public prosecutor’s office said on Wednesday.
Under French law, a provisional indictment means that judges have good reason to believe that a crime has been committed, but give them more time to investigate further.
The charges against him are based on allegations that Telegram was used to distribute child sexual abuse material, promote drug trafficking, commit fraud, and support organized crime. In addition, Durov’s refusal to cooperate with investigators by withholding information or documents despite being required by law has further compounded his legal troubles.
According to the Associated Press, French prosecutors said in a statement that Durov was “the only person involved in this case at this time,” but did not rule out that other people were being investigated.
AOP.Press/Corbis/Getty Images
Durov, a Russian-born tech entrepreneur who now holds French citizenship, has drawn mixed reactions since his arrest. While some free speech advocates argue that the charges threaten digital freedom, critics claim that Telegram’s lax moderation policies enable serious criminal activity.
The Russian government, which had previously tried to ban Telegram, expressed its support for Durov. Kremlin officials condemned the allegations as politically motivated.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that while he hoped that Durov “has all the necessary means for his defense” and that Moscow “is ready to provide any necessary assistance,” the situation was “complicated by the fact that he is also a French citizen.”
However, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday that Durov’s arrest was part of an independent judicial process and not a politically motivated action. Posting on X, he said his country was “deeply committed” to freedom of expression, but “freedoms are maintained within a legal framework, both on social media and in real life, to protect citizens and respect their fundamental rights.”
Meanwhile, Telegram said in a statement posted on its platform after Durov’s arrest that the company complies with EU laws and that its moderation “meets industry standards and is constantly improving.”
“It is absurd to claim that a platform or its owner is responsible for the misuse of that platform,” Telegram’s post said. “Nearly a billion users around the world use Telegram as a means of communication and as a source of important information. We await a swift resolution of this situation. Telegram is with you all.”
Durov, who has not yet commented publicly on the allegations, continues to lead Telegram, whose platform is becoming increasingly popular.
