Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of Telegram, has been formally charged in France with multiple violations related to the messaging app.
On Wednesday, French authorities charged Durov with failing to control extremist and illegal content on Telegram and imposed restrictions on his freedom of movement.
The 39-year-old Russian-born billionaire was arrested at Le Bourget airport near Paris late Saturday and questioned by investigators over the following days.
After a hearing with investigating magistrates in Paris, Durov was charged with several offenses, including alleged crimes involving an organized group, such as “complicity in the administration of an online platform to enable an illicit transaction.”
Following his arrest, Durov was granted conditional release on a bail of five million euros.
Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau announced that Durov must report to a police station twice a week and remain within France as part of his release conditions.
In addition to the primary charges, Durov faces allegations of refusing to provide requested documents, as well as charges related to “dissemination in an organized group of images of minors in child pornography,” drug trafficking, fraud, and money laundering.
