Telegram CEO Durov charged in France over alleged criminal activity on app

French authorities on Wednesday charged Telegram CEO Pavel Durov with tolerating alleged criminal activity on his messaging app.

Durov was detained Saturday at Le Bourget airport, just outside Paris, as part of a judicial investigation opened last month that involves 12 suspected crimes. Durov was released from custody after four days of questioning related to the charges.

However, Durov has now been charged with “participating in the management of an internet platform in order to enable an organised group to make illegal transactions”. The offence could result in a sentence of up to 10 years in prison and a fine of 500,000 euros, the prosecutor’s office said on Wednesday.

Under French law, a preliminary charge means judges have reasonable grounds to believe a crime has been committed but allows more time for further investigation.

The charges against him stem from claims that Telegram was used to distribute child sexual abuse material, facilitate drug trafficking, commit fraud, and support organized crime. Additionally, Durov’s refusal to cooperate with investigators by withholding information or documents when legally required has further complicated his legal troubles.

According to the Associated Press, French prosecutors said in a statement that Durov was “at this stage the only person involved in this case,” but did not rule out that other people were also being investigated.

Durov, a Russian tech entrepreneur who now holds French citizenship, has drawn mixed reactions following his arrest. While some free speech advocates say the charges threaten digital freedom, critics say Telegram’s lax moderation policies enable serious criminal activity.

Russian authorities, who previously tried to block Telegram, expressed support for Durov, while Kremlin officials condemned the accusations as politically motivated.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that while he hoped Durov “has all the necessary opportunities for legal defense” and that Moscow was “ready to provide all necessary assistance,” the situation was “complicated by the fact that he is also a French citizen.”

However, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday that Durov’s arrest was part of an independent judicial process and not a politically motivated action, posting on X that his country “is deeply committed” to freedom of speech but “freedoms are respected within a legal framework, both on social media and in real life, to protect citizens and respect their fundamental rights.”

Meanwhile, in a statement published on its platform following Durov’s arrest, Telegram said it complies with EU regulations and its moderation is “in line with industry standards and is constantly improving.”

“It is absurd to claim that the platform or its owner is responsible for the abuse of this platform,” Telegram said in a statement. “Nearly a billion users worldwide use Telegram as a means of communication and a source of important information. We expect this situation to be resolved quickly. Telegram stands with you all.”

Durov, who has not yet publicly addressed the allegations, continues to run Telegram, a platform that is becoming increasingly popular.