Four days after his airport arrest, Telegram founder Pavel Durov has been formally indicted on multiple charges by French authorities, the latest development in the ongoing investigation into the platform's alleged role in facilitating criminal activities.
The Office of the Prosecutor of the Republic in Paris announced Wednesday that the charges against Durov include accusations of enabling the use of his platform for drug trafficking, organized fraud, and the dissemination of pornographic content involving minors.
The indictment also cites Durov’s refusal to cooperate with law enforcement by withholding information necessary for legal investigations.
“The investigation will continue under the direction of the investigating judges—this could take several months,” warned French deputy prosecutor Maylis DeRoeck, in a statement to Decrypt.
Durov has been placed under judicial supervision and is required to pay a €5 million bond (about $5.5 million). He is also prohibited from leaving French territory and must report to a police station twice a week.
"This indictment is the result of a thorough investigation into Telegram's near-total lack of response to judicial requests, which has been a concern for multiple law enforcement agencies across Europe,” Prosecutor Laure Beccuau stated.
The charges stem from an investigation that began in February 2024, following reports from various investigative services and prosecutors about Telegram's alleged involvement in cases ranging from child exploitation to drug trafficking and online hate speech.
Pavel Durov’s arrest at Le Bourget airport near Paris on August 24 has sparked worries about the impact on technology firms in Europe. Authorities have meanwhile expressed apprehension about Telegram’s insufficient moderation, claiming that the platform has facilitated the growth of illegal activities.
Responding to Pavel’s arrest, Telegram asserted that he has "nothing to hide" in a statement shared on the platform's official news channel.
"Telegram complies with EU laws, including the Digital Services Act—its moderation practices are in line with industry standards and are continually improving," the statement read.