Telegram founder Pavel Durov was released from police custody in France on Wednesday and is now facing questioning in court, potentially leading to an indictment, according to prosecutors who spoke to CNN.
This follows his high-profile arrest at a Paris airport earlier in the week.
Durov, who exited the anti-fraud office near Paris in what seemed to be a police vehicle, will undergo “initial questioning and possible indictment” at a Paris court, the Paris prosecutor’s office confirmed.
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The 39-year-old Russian-born billionaire was detained at Paris’s Bourget Airport on Saturday under a warrant related to allegations against Telegram’s moderation practices.
He faces investigation for several serious charges, including claims that his platform facilitated fraud, drug trafficking, and child exploitation.
The scrutiny also extends to Telegram’s use by terrorist groups and far-right extremists due to its minimal content moderation.
Durov was held for up to 96 hours, the maximum allowed under French law before formal charges must be filed.
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His arrest has sparked a debate over freedom of speech, particularly in Ukraine and Russia, where Telegram is a crucial communication tool amid the ongoing conflict with Moscow.
French President Emmanuel Macron weighed in on Monday, asserting that the charges against Durov were “in no way political,” a rare comment from a French leader on a judicial issue.
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Founded in 2013 by Durov and his brother Nikolai, Telegram now boasts over 950 million users, making it one of the most popular messaging apps globally.
The app’s encrypted conversations limit oversight by both law enforcement and Telegram itself.
Durov, born in the Soviet Union in 1984, earned the nickname “Mark Zuckerberg of Russia” in his 20s.
He left Russia in 2014 and now resides in Dubai, where Telegram’s headquarters are located, while also holding French citizenship.
