Telegram CEO faces 12 criminal charges in France

On August 27, Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau announced that Telegram CEO Pavel Durov had been arrested and investigated on 12 criminal charges. She said the arrest was part of a judicial investigation that began on July 8, following an investigation initiated by the cybercrime unit of the Paris Prosecutor's Office.

This investigation concerns allegations of illegal transactions, possession or provision of pornographic images of minors… In addition, French police are also investigating the refusal to provide information or documents required by competent authorities to carry out legitimate surveillance activities.

Ms Beccuau also noted that Mr Durov’s detention could last up to 96 hours from August 24, according to the procedure for organized crime. Once the initial interrogation period is over, Mr Durov could be released or charged and remain in detention.

Earlier in the day, French President Emmanuel Macron denied that the arrest of Russian Telegram founder Pavel Durov was politically motivated, stressing that it was up to the investigating judges to decide on the case. On August 26, TASS news agency reported that Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on August 26 that Russia did not know the specific charges against Durov, who is currently detained in France. Russian officials said that it was not necessary to rush to conclusions before Durov was convicted. The news agency also said that the Russian Embassy in France was taking the necessary steps to protect Durov's rights and seeking consular access to him, but "so far the French side has avoided getting involved in this matter."

On August 24, Russian billionaire Pavel Durov, who also holds citizenship of France, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saint Kitts and Nevis (a Caribbean country), was arrested in France as part of a preliminary police investigation into alleged censorship of the Telegram app. With nearly 1 billion users, Telegram is particularly influential in Russia and other former Soviet countries.