Telegram Founder Pavel Durov Released from French Custody Amidst Controversy and Investigation

Telegram founder Pavel Durov was released from police custody in France on Wednesday and transferred to court for questioning, according to prosecutors. His arrest took place days earlier at Paris’s Bourget Airport, sparking a global conversation about online freedom and platform responsibility.

The Russian-born billionaire, 39, was detained on Saturday under a warrant related to Telegram’s content moderation policies. Durov is under investigation for allegedly allowing his platform to be used by criminals, including fraudsters, drug traffickers, and those spreading child pornography. Telegram has also faced criticism for being a tool for terrorist groups and far-right extremists due to its lack of content oversight.

After his release, Durov was transferred to a Paris court for potential indictment. He could be held for up to 96 hours under French law before being formally charged.

The arrest has raised concerns in Ukraine and Russia, where Telegram is widely used, especially during the ongoing conflict between the two nations. The Kremlin has sought to reassure Russian users about the app’s future, with spokesperson Dmitry Peskov advising against deleting sensitive messages.

French President Emmanuel Macron commented on the case, stating that the charges against Durov are not politically motivated, marking an unusual intervention in a judicial process by a French leader.

Telegram, launched in 2013 by Durov and his brother Nikolai, now boasts over 950 million users. The app’s encrypted messaging system offers little oversight, making it both a tool for free communication in oppressive regimes and a haven for illicit activities. Despite these challenges, Durov has defended the app’s security features, arguing that it cannot be both secure and open to government scrutiny.

Durov, often dubbed the “Mark Zuckerberg of Russia,” left his home country in 2014 and currently resides in Dubai, where Telegram is headquartered. He holds French citizenship and is valued at approximately $9.15 billion.

While praised for championing free speech, Telegram continues to face scrutiny over its role in enabling illegal activities, with critics pointing to its use by terrorists, including those involved in the Paris attacks of November 2015.

Durov has remained steadfast in his commitment to user privacy, emphasizing the inherent trade-offs in maintaining a secure communication platform.