Update Aug. 28, 10:55 pm UTC: This article and headline have been updated to add information on Pavel Durov’s release from custody.
Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of the messaging app Telegram, has been released from custody after being charged by French authorities and placed under judicial supervision following a court appearance.
<a data-ct-non-breakable="null" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-08-28/telegram-ceo-charged-in-france-for-alleged-criminal-use-of-app" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" text="null">According</a> to an Aug. 28 Bloomberg report, French prosecutors said they had charged Durov with criminal offenses related to his role at Telegram. He was barred from leaving France and required to post bail of 5 million euros ($5.5 million) before being released from custody. 
A widely-shared video from Russian state-owned news outlet RIA Novosti <a data-ct-non-breakable="null" href="https://ria.ru/20240828/durov-1969087982.html" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" text="null">shows</a> Durov walking free from a Paris courthouse on Aug. 28.
Police delivered Durov to court after being <a data-ct-non-breakable="null" href="https://cointelegraph.com/news/telegram-ceo-pavel-durov-arrested-france" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" text="null">detained at an airport</a> north of Paris on Aug. 24. Authorities initially <a data-ct-non-breakable="null" href="https://cointelegraph.com/news/french-authorities-pavel-durov-custody" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" text="null">extended the Telegram CEO’s custody</a> to Aug. 28, when he was expected to either be released or face charges in court.
After his arrest, prosecutors <a data-ct-non-breakable="null" href="https://cointelegraph.com/news/french-authorities-pavel-durov-custody" rel="null" target="null" text="null">said the Telegram founder</a> had been taken into custody as part of a judicial investigation from July “against person unnamed.” The charges included complicity with illegal activities, refusal to communicate to authorities, money laundering, criminal association and providing cryptology services without prior declaration. 
Related: <a data-ct-non-breakable="null" href="https://cointelegraph.com/news/telegram-ceo-brother-arrest-warrants-issued-march" rel="null" target="null" text="null">Telegram CEO and brother’s arrest warrants were issued in March: Report</a>
French prosecutors alleged Durov was complicit in helping spread child pornography and facilitating illicit activities through Telegram. He also reportedly <a data-ct-non-breakable="null" href="https://cointelegraph.com/news/telegram-pavel-durov-abuse-claims-report" rel="null" target="null" text="null">faces child abuse allegations</a> in Switzerland that are unrelated to the French case.
<h2 id="free-speech-allegations">Free speech allegations</h2>
Many of Durov’s defenders have criticized French authorities for taking the Telegram CEO into custody, claiming the move represented an attack on freedom of expression. 
As of 2024, Telegram had more than 900 million monthly active users. Having Durov answer in court for messaging app users conducting illegal activities or sharing illicit content may set a precedent for other heads of social media firms like Mark Zuckerberg or Elon Musk.
<figure>
 <img alt="Telegram CEO Pavel Durov charged and released, barred from leaving France" name="" src="https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2024-08/01919ab3-565a-7c07-a029-02d83b6f3c7f">
 <figcaption style="text-align: center;">
 Source: <a data-ct-non-breakable="null" href="https://x.com/Snowden/status/1827695836832334169" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" text="null">Edward Snowden</a>
 </figcaption>
</figure>
French President Emmanuel Macron <a data-ct-non-breakable="null" href="https://cointelegraph.com/news/france-president-emmanuel-macron-pavel-durov-arrest-not-political" rel="" target="_self" text="null">denied Durov’s arrest</a> was politically motivated, but many questions still seem to linger after four days. 
Magazine: <a data-ct-non-breakable="null" href="https://cointelegraph.com/magazine/animoca-brands-yat-siu-blockchain-gaming-elon-musk-x-hall-of-flame/" rel="null" target="null" text="null">Elon Musk is worth 100K followers: Yat Siu, X Hall of Flame</a>

Telegram CEO Pavel Durov charged and released, barred from leaving France

Table of Contents

Cointelegraph

Other articles published on Aug 28, 2024

Shiba Inu’s $1 Dream: Reality Check from Crypto Analyst

Why Ethereum Price Cannot Recover? Analysis Firm Reveals Four Major Events That Dumped ETH!

PolitiFi Tokens Outperform Memecoins in 2024: A Detailed Analysis

WUFFI Tap is kicking its free to play season with over $500,000 in prizes

Market Analyst Hints Pepecoin And Mpeppe (MPEPE) To Have A Rally 500% In September

Dogecoin’s Market Moves and MPEPE’s Steady Growth But MoonBag’s Additional 50% Referral Rewards M...

Join our free newsletter for daily crypto updates!