French authorities on Aug. 28 issued preliminary charges against Telegram CEO Pavel Durov, accusing him of permitting alleged criminal activity on the messaging app. The charging decision comes four days after French authorities detained Durov at the Paris–Le Bourget Airport, as he arrived on his private jet from Azerbaijan.
Earlier on Aug. 28, Durov was released from police detention and ordered to appear in court for further consideration of his case. A French court also ordered Durov to pay 5 million euros ($5.5 million) in bail and to report to a police station twice per week, according to a statement from the Paris prosecutor’s office.
Allegations against the Russia-born Durov, who is a French citizen, include that his platform is being used for child sexual abuse material and drug trafficking and that Telegram has refused to cooperate with criminal investigators.
