French authorities have formally charged Telegram CEO Pavel Durov with multiple crimes, including complicity in distributing child pornography, illegal drugs, and hacking software. Durov is also accused of failing to cooperate with investigations into illegal activities on the Telegram messaging app.
On Wednesday, a French court released Durov on a €5 million bail but restricted him from leaving the country. The charges stem from a larger investigation into Telegram’s alleged role in facilitating criminal activity.
Durov, a Russian billionaire, was initially detained by French authorities last Saturday upon arriving at a Paris airport.
As a condition of the investigation, Durov is subject to “court monitoring” and must report to a police station twice a week. This legal process could potentially span months or even years, according to The WSJ.
Unless the charges are dropped, Durov, known for his international mobility and remote work practices, will be confined to France for the foreseeable future. Telegram has previously defended its founder, calling the charges “absurd” and arguing that he should not be held accountable for the actions of the app’s users.
Telegram said that the CEO had nothing to hide after he was arrested. The company said in a statement:
It is absurd to claim that a platform or its owner are responsible for abuse of that platform. 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.