Telegram CEO and billionaire Pavel Durov was released from police custody in France on Wednesday and is set to face initial questioning in court, according to a report from The New Yorker.
Durov, a Russian-born entrepreneur, was detained for 96 hours—the maximum allowed under French law—before being transferred to a Paris court. French prosecutors have announced that the 39-year-old tech mogul is facing “initial questioning and possible indictment” in connection with an investigation into organized crime.
The investigation centers on allegations that Telegram, which has nearly 1 billion users worldwide, has been used for illegal activities such as drug trafficking, online fraud, and possession of illicit content. Prosecutors are also scrutinizing claims that Telegram has failed to cooperate with law enforcement, a significant issue given the platform’s reputation for its strong encryption.
According to a judicial source, Durov’s formal investigation could lead to pretrial detention if he is deemed a flight risk. French authorities have also reportedly issued an arrest warrant for Durov’s brother Nikolai, a co-founder of Telegram. Both warrants were issued in March, though the French prosecutor’s office has not confirmed this due to the confidentiality of the ongoing investigation.
Telegram has defended its practices, asserting that its content moderation complies with industry standards and European Union laws. The company has stated that “Pavel Durov has nothing to hide” and described the notion of holding the platform or its owner responsible for its misuse as “absurd.”
Free speech advocates have raised concerns that Durov’s detention could be politically motivated, particularly given the app’s use by anti-government protesters. French President Emmanuel Macron has maintained that the investigation is “in no way political.”