Telegram boss Durov free but charged and held in France

AFP | Paris, France

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Telegram chief Pavel Durov was spending Thursday out on bail after four days of detention in France, banned from leaving the country as he faces a possible trial related to illegal content carried on his messaging app. Russian-born Durov, dressed in black and wearing dark glasses, walked briskly out of the Paris court house late Wednesday into a waiting car after being charged but allowed to go free under judicial supervision.

He thanked his lawyer and was rapidly ushered into the vehicle by a burly man appearing to be a bodyguard, video posted on social media channels showed. Durov, 39, was charged on several counts of failing to curb extremist and illegal content on the popular messaging app which now has over 900 million followers but has become increasingly controversial. His lawyer David-Olivier Kaminski said it was “absurd” to suggest Durov could be implicated in any crime committed on the app, adding: “Telegram complies in all respects with European rules concerning digital technology.”

In Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned France against turning the case into “political persecution”, emphasising he is a “Russian citizen” and “we will be watching what happens next.” Among those also voicing support for Durov is fellow tech tycoon and chief executive of X, Elon Musk, who has posted comments under the hashtag #FreePavel. After the charges, Musk posted a meme on X of a surveillance camera attached to buildings inscribed with France’s motto, “liberty, equality, fraternity.”

Litany of charges