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On August 28, Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov will get an answer on whether he will be formally charged and even detained.
Once the initial 96-hour interrogation period ends, investigators can either release Mr. Durov or charge him and detain him pending trial. He could also be released on supervised release, which would include restrictions on his movements.
Mr. Duvrov, 39, currently holds citizenship of Russia, France, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Saint Kitts & Nevis. In 2013, the tech billionaire founded Telegram. The messaging app has grown exponentially, now with over 900 million users. Forbes magazine estimates Mr. Durov's current net worth at $15.5 billion.
On August 24, billionaire Durov was arrested in France to serve a preliminary police investigation focusing on Telegram's alleged lack of censorship measures.
On August 27, Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau announced that Telegram CEO was arrested for 12 criminal charges related to the lack of content moderation on the app. 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.
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.
French President Emmanuel Macron denied on social media on August 26 that Mr. Durov’s arrest was politically motivated and that the decision was part of an ongoing judicial investigation. He said it was up to the judges to decide on the matter.
In Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he was ready to provide the necessary assistance because Mr Durov is a Russian citizen. However, the situation was complicated by the fact that Mr Durov is also a French citizen. Mr Peskov stressed that the accusations were very serious and required solid evidence. Otherwise, it would be a direct attempt to restrict freedom of communication and intimidate the head of a large company.
Meanwhile, the UAE has offered consular protection to the Telegram founder. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement stating that the UAE is closely monitoring the case of this citizen. The UAE has sent a request to the Government of the French Republic to provide him with the necessary consular services on an urgent basis.
Telegram insists that Mr. Durov has nothing to hide and frequently travels to Europe. The app complies with European Union laws, including the Digital Services Act. Telegram bills itself as a “neutral” platform, while U.S. platforms have been criticized for using users’ personal data for commercial purposes.
Telegram is an app that is particularly influential in Russia and former Soviet countries.
