France’s judiciary charged Telegram founder Pavel Durov on Wednesday, accusing him of crimes ranging from aiding criminal activity to complicity in distributing images depicting child abuse. He was granted release under judicial supervision and a 5 million euro bond, with a requirement to report to police twice weekly and a prohibition on leaving France. The announcement came from Laure Beccuau, the chief prosecutor for France, who emphasized the conditions of release and supervision.
After being questioned in Paris, investigators charged Durov with all the serious counts brought forward during the probe, which initially listed about a dozen allegations. The case followed four days of provisional detention, the maximum allowed under the charges under investigation, following his arrest at Le Bourget private airport near Paris on the prior Saturday.
Among the charges, prosecutors accuse him of involvement in running an online platform that facilitated illicit transactions by organized crime groups, as well as participation in scams and trafficking. Additional accusations pertain to the alleged dissemination of sexually exploitative material involving minors on Telegram.
Investigators also accuse him of not cooperating with the authorities by withholding information about possible criminal actions and by issues related to the platform’s operation and encryption. The French public prosecutor’s office noted that Telegram, founded in 2013, has appeared in numerous cases involving a range of offenses, including child pornography, online hate, and narcotics trafficking, and that the company offered little to no response to judicial inquiries during investigations.
The investigation that led to Durov’s detention began in February 2024 and involved several French agencies focusing on cybercrime, organized crime, and fraud. When asked, other French investigative services and prosecutors, along with Eurojust partners, particularly from Belgium, shared the same observations about the case, according to the public prosecutor’s statement.
Durov, who holds Russian, French, and United Arab Emirates citizenship, lives in Dubai, the city where Telegram maintains its headquarters. Following the founder and CEO’s arrest on Saturday, Telegram issued a statement asserting that the platform complies with European Union laws, including the Digital Services Act, and that its moderation standards are aligned with industry benchmarks and continually improved. The company’s message also claimed that Durov has nothing to hide and travels widely in Europe, arguing that it is unreasonable to hold a platform or its owner responsible for abuses that occur on the service.
In addition to the charges in this case, it emerged the same day that Durov is being investigated for alleged mistreatment of one of his children in Paris. The investigation stemmed from a Swiss complaint filed by his former partner, who resides in Switzerland with the child, born in 2017. The ongoing probe is being conducted under Swiss procedures and French authorities are coordinating as part of cross-border legal cooperation.
Experts and observers note the broader context: Telegram has grown rapidly since its 2013 inception and has become a focal point in debates over online safety, content moderation, and platform responsibility. French prosecutors have stressed the need for cooperation from digital platforms and the seriousness with which they approach issues ranging from child exploitation to organized crime facilitated online. The case underscores the delicate balance between maintaining whistleblower-friendly, freewheeling communication tools and ensuring that such platforms do not become vehicles for serious criminal activity. The proceedings will continue as French authorities pursue further evidence and evaluate additional charges related to the platform’s governance and encryption practices.