Telegram CEO Pavel Durov has been barred from leaving France after being charged in connection with an ongoing investigation into organised crime activities on his messaging platform. The Russian-born entrepreneur was arrested on Saturday, August 24, at Le Bourget airport near Paris and released on Wednesday, August 28, after four days of questioning.
French authorities have imposed preliminary charges against Durov, requiring him to pay a bail of 5 million euros (₹46.7 crores) and to report to a police station twice weekly. The charges stem from allegations that Telegram was being used for child sexual exploitation and drug trafficking, with the platform allegedly failing to cooperate with law enforcement.
Preliminary charges in France indicate that the magistrates have substantial reasons to believe a crime has occurred, but further investigation is needed before a final verdict is reached. Durov is being investigated for several offences, including complicity in facilitating illicit transactions by an organised group and withholding information from authorities.
Durov, who became a French citizen in 2021, currently resides in Dubai. He left Russia in 2014 after refusing to share VKontakte users’ data with Russian security services, leading to an unsuccessful attempt by Russia to block Telegram.