Telegram CEO Pavel Durov charged for criminal use of app, told to stay in France
PARIS: French authorities handed preliminary charges to Telegram CEO Pavel Durov on Wednesday for allowing alleged criminal activity on his messaging app and barred him from leaving France pending further investigation.
Both free-speech advocates and authoritarian govts have spoken in Durov’s defence since his weekend arrest. The case has also called attention to the challenges of policing illegal activity online, and to the Russia-born Durov’s own unusual biography and multiple passports.
Durov was detained Saturday at Le Bourget airport outside Paris as part of investigation, and released earlier Wednesday after four days of questioning.Investigative judges filed preliminary charges Wednesday and ordered him to pay 5 million euros bail and to report to a police station twice a week, according to a statement from the Paris prosecutor’s office.
Allegations against Durovinclude that his platform is being used for child sexual abuse material and drug trafficking, and that Telegram refused to share information or documents with investigators when required by law.
The first preliminary charge against him was for “complicity in managing an online platform to allow illicit transactions by an organised group,” a crime that can lead to sentences of up to 10 years in prison and 500,000 euro fine, prosecutor’s office said.
David-Olivier Kaminski, a lawyer for Durov, was quoted by French media as saying “it’s absurd to think the person in charge of a social network could be implicated in criminal acts that don’t concern him, directly or indirectly.” Prosecutors said Durov is, “at this stage, the only person implicated in this case.” Durov’s arrest in France has caused outrage in Russia, with officials calling it West’s double standard on freedom of speech. Telegram was founded by Durov and his brother after he himself faced pressure from Russian authorities.
Both free-speech advocates and authoritarian govts have spoken in Durov’s defence since his weekend arrest. The case has also called attention to the challenges of policing illegal activity online, and to the Russia-born Durov’s own unusual biography and multiple passports.
Durov was detained Saturday at Le Bourget airport outside Paris as part of investigation, and released earlier Wednesday after four days of questioning.Investigative judges filed preliminary charges Wednesday and ordered him to pay 5 million euros bail and to report to a police station twice a week, according to a statement from the Paris prosecutor’s office.
Allegations against Durovinclude that his platform is being used for child sexual abuse material and drug trafficking, and that Telegram refused to share information or documents with investigators when required by law.
The first preliminary charge against him was for “complicity in managing an online platform to allow illicit transactions by an organised group,” a crime that can lead to sentences of up to 10 years in prison and 500,000 euro fine, prosecutor’s office said.
David-Olivier Kaminski, a lawyer for Durov, was quoted by French media as saying “it’s absurd to think the person in charge of a social network could be implicated in criminal acts that don’t concern him, directly or indirectly.” Prosecutors said Durov is, “at this stage, the only person implicated in this case.” Durov’s arrest in France has caused outrage in Russia, with officials calling it West’s double standard on freedom of speech. Telegram was founded by Durov and his brother after he himself faced pressure from Russian authorities.
