Telegram founder Pavel Durov was released from police custody in France on Wednesday and transferred to a court in Paris for questioning ahead of a possible indictment, according to the Paris prosecutor’s office.
Durov, 39, was detained at Paris’s Bourget Airport on Saturday under a warrant related to Telegram’s lack of content moderation.
The Russian-born billionaire is being investigated for allegedly aiding criminal activities, including fraud, drug trafficking, child pornography, and terrorist communications on the app.
Authorities held Durov for 96 hours, the maximum period allowed under French law before formal charges must be made.
The Paris prosecutor’s office stated that Durov would now undergo “initial questioning and possible indictment.”
The arrest has sparked a debate over freedom of speech, especially in Russia and Ukraine, where Telegram is widely used for communication, particularly during Moscow’s ongoing war against Ukraine.
Russian officials, including government spokesman Dmitry Peskov, have attempted to reassure citizens about the app’s future.
French President Emmanuel Macron addressed concerns on Monday, stating that the decision to pursue charges against Durov was “in no way political,” marking an unusual public comment on a judicial issue.
