Telegram director under investigation for organized crime, released on bail of five million euros

Telegram CEO Pavel Durov was formally placed under investigation for organized crime on the communication application on Wednesday, but the judge also decided that he could be released from custody on bail of five million euros.

Durov must report to the police twice a week and is not allowed to leave France.

The prosecutor in Paris, Laura Beku, stated in a statement that the judge found that there were grounds for a formal investigation of Durov, which is why he was arrested. The charges relate to operating an online platform for illegal transactions, child pornography, drug trafficking and fraud, as well as refusing to communicate with authorities, money laundering.

Durov, who was born in Russia and holds French citizenship, was taken into custody Saturday at an airport near Paris as part of a judicial investigation into 12 alleged crimes launched last month, the Associated Press reports.

Durov's arrest sparked outrage in Russia, where some officials said it was politically motivated and proof that the West has double standards when it comes to free speech. However, in 2018, the Russian authorities themselves tried to block Telegram but failed, after which they lifted the ban in 2020.

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday that Durov's arrest was not politically motivated, but that it was an independent investigation.

After the arrest of the executive director, Telegram stated that it respects the laws of the European Union, and that the content is monitored "in accordance with the standards".

"It is absurd to claim that the platform or its owner is responsible for abuses on the platform. Almost a billion users globally use Telegram as a means of communication and a source of key information," according to a post on Telegram.

Durov also has the citizenship of the United Arab Emirates, which announced on Tuesday that they are "closely following the case" and asked France to "urgently provide the necessary consular services" to Durov.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that he hoped that Durov had "all the necessary opportunities for defense" and added that Moscow was ready to provide him with "all the necessary assistance" as a Russian citizen.

Telegram, which has almost a billion users worldwide, was founded by Durov and his brother. The platform and its commitment to privacy is a convenient way for Russians to communicate and share news. Telegram is also a popular news source in Ukraine, where media and officials use the app to share information about the war and warn of missile and airstrikes.

Western governments often criticize Telegram for not policing content. Experts believe that the application is therefore susceptible to possible use for money laundering, drug trafficking and sharing of material associated with the sexual exploitation of minors.