French authorities have formally charged Pavel Durov, the CEO of Telegram, and imposed a travel ban on him, preventing him from leaving France while they conduct an investigation into allegations against the Russian billionaire. On Wednesday, Durov faced charges of “complicity in the dissemination of child pornography, the illegal sale of narcotics, and the distribution of hacking tools” through the popular messaging platform he established.
Additionally, he is accused of “failing to cooperate with law enforcement agencies in their efforts to investigate unlawful activities on Telegram,” as reported by The Wall Street Journal.
Durov was apprehended on the outskirts of Paris last Saturday and subsequently released from police detention after posting a bail amount of €5 million. As part of his conditional release, he is mandated to remain in France under judicial supervision and is required to report to a local police station twice a week. The ongoing investigation could extend over a lengthy period, potentially lasting months or even years, as indicated by The WSJ.
This situation effectively restricts Durov, who is recognized for his nomadic lifestyle and tendency to work from various countries, to remain within French borders for an undetermined length of time, unless the legal proceedings against him are resolved favorably. Telegram has previously issued a statement denouncing the allegations against Durov as “preposterous,” asserting that he should not be held accountable for the conduct of the users of his application.
