Durov’s four-day detention has been ended by a judge but he will be brought before a court for a possible indictment.
Pavel Durov, the CEO of Telegram, has been released from police custody after four days of questioning over allegations that the messaging app is being used for illegal activities.
The Russian-born tech entrepreneur will be brought before a French court with a view to a possible indictment, according to prosecutors.
“An investigating judge has ended Pavel Durov’s police custody and will have him brought to court for a first appearance and a possible indictment,” a statement from the Paris prosecutor’s office said.
Durov was detained on Saturday at Le Bourget airport outside Paris as part of a judicial inquiry opened last month involving 12 alleged criminal violations.
They include allegations that his platform is being used for selling child sexual abuse material and drug trafficking, fraud, abetting organised crime transactions and Telegram’s refusal to share information or documents with investigators when required by law.
Paris prosecutor’s office said in a statement that Durov’s police custody order was extended on Monday evening for up to 48 hours. After that, authorities must release or charge him, the prosecutor’s office said.
If he is charged, his flight risk will be a factor judges will have to include in their assessment of possible pretrial detention, according to French law. It could be quite high as he holds multiple nationalities.
International outrage and support
His arrest in France has caused outrage in Russia, with some government officials calling it politically motivated and proof of the West’s double standard on freedom of speech.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he hoped that Durov “has all the necessary opportunities for his legal defence” and added that Moscow stands “ready to provide all necessary assistance and support” to the Telegram CEO as a Russian citizen.
“But the situation is complicated by the fact that he is also a citizen of France,” Peskov said.
In Iran, where Telegram is widely used despite being officially banned after years of protests challenging the country’s Shiite theocracy, Durov’s arrest in France prompted comments from the Islamic Republic’s supreme leader.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei weighed in with veiled praise for France for being “strict” against those who “violate your governance” of the Internet.
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday that Durov’s arrest wasn’t a political move but part of an independent investigation.
Macron posted on X that his country “is deeply committed” to freedom of expression but “freedoms are upheld within a legal framework, both on social media and in real life, to protect citizens and respect their fundamental rights”.
In a statement posted on its platform after Durov’s arrest, Telegram said it abides by EU laws, and its moderation is “within industry standards and constantly improving”.
“It is absurd to claim that a platform or its owner are responsible for abuse of that platform,” Telegram’s post said.
“Almost a billion users globally use Telegram as means of communication and as a source of vital information. We’re awaiting a prompt resolution of this situation. Telegram is with you all”.
Durov also holds nationality from the UAE, where Telegram is based.
The UAE Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday that it was “closely following the case” and had asked France to provide Durov “with all the necessary consular services in an urgent manner”.
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