Telegram CEO Detention Ends... Decision on Indictment Pending

Telegram CEO Pavel Durov's detention ended on the 28th (local time).

The Paris Prosecutor's Office stated, "The investigating judge has ended Durov's police detention and will bring him to court to consider the possibility of prosecution."

Pavel Durov CEO
Photo by AP Yonhap News

Durov was arrested in France on the 24th.

The investigating judge will decide whether to prosecute Durov and whether to detain him, release him under judicial supervision, or take other measures.

Durov, a Russian-born French citizen, is suspected of conspiracy to possess and distribute child pornography, drug trafficking, and organized crime. It is alleged that he tacitly allowed illegal activities on Telegram and failed to respond to information requests from French investigative authorities, effectively conspiring in criminal acts.

According to foreign media, Durov is also under investigation for allegations of child abuse. His ex-wife, who currently lives in Switzerland, filed a complaint last year claiming that he exhibited violent behavior toward their son born in 2017. The incident is reported to have occurred in Paris.

On the evening of the 24th, Durov arrived at Le Bourget Airport on a private jet and was arrested by French investigative authorities.

According to the U.S. political news outlet Politico, the French judiciary has also issued an arrest warrant for Nikolai Durov, Pavel's brother and co-founder of Telegram. However, the Paris Prosecutor's Office denied the issuance of an arrest warrant for Nikolai.

Russia has condemned Durov's arrest as a violation of freedom of expression and a political decision, criticizing France. Meanwhile, President Emmanuel Macron stated that it is part of an investigation and not a political decision.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.