Pavel Durov, Russian-born entrepreneur and Telegram chief executive, has been charged by French authorities who allege he permitted his online messaging app to be used for a range of illegal activities.
Officials said he had been allowed to remain on bail of €5m (£4,2m), but told he cannot leave the country and must report to French police stations on a weekly basis.
In a rare instance of the top official of one of the world’s social media platforms being personally charged, officials alleged the 39 year-old was complicit in a number of illicit transactions.
It has been alleged his platform is being used for child sexual abuse material and drug trafficking, allegations he denies. Telegram is also accused of refusing to share information or documents with investigators when required by law.
Some of the charges face penalties of 10 years in prison and a fine of €500,000.
Mr Durov, a French citizen who has always presented himself as a champion of free speech, has always denied any wrong doing.
He was arrested last Saturday at Le Bourget airport outside of Paris. At the time, his arrest triggered outcry among users of the Telegram.
On Wednesday Emmanuel Macron, the French president, addressed the outrage, writing on X (formerly Twitter) that he had seen false information following the arrest of Mr Durov.
“France is deeply committed to freedom of expression and communication, to innovation, and to the spirit of entrepreneurship. It will remain so,” he said.
“The arrest of the president of Telegram on French soil took place as part of an ongoing judicial investigation. It is in no way a political decision.”
Officials have said Mr Durov’s arrest was part of a broader investigation that was started last month and he was detained until Wednesday morning when he was released on bail.
As part of France’s investigative process, judges filed preliminary charges against him on Wednesday night and ordered him to pay bail.
Laure Beccuau, a Paris prosecutor, said in a statement that Telegram has appeared in multiple criminal cases tied to child sexual abuse material, drug trafficking and online hate crimes, but has shown a “near-total absence” of replies to requests for cooperation.
She said other prosecutors around France, as well as legal authorities in other European countries, had “shared the same observation”.
In a statement posted on its platform after Mr Durov’s arrest, Telegram has insisted it abided by EU laws, and its moderation is “within industry standards and constantly improving”.
“It is absurd to claim that a platform or its owner are responsible for abuse of that platform,” Telegram’s post said. “Almost a billion users globally use Telegram as a means of communication and as a source of vital information. We’re awaiting a prompt resolution of this situation. Telegram is with you all.”
In addition to Russia and France, Mr Durov is also a citizen of the United Arab Emirates and the Caribbean island nation of St. Kitts and Nevis.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he hoped Mr Durov “has all the necessary opportunities for his legal defence” and added that Moscow stands “ready to provide all necessary assistance and support”.
Mr Durov left France in 2014 and lives most of the time in Dubai.
Neither he or his company have yet to comment on the latest developments.
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