Pavel Durov released after 96 hours in french custody, faces court in major criminal investigation

The Russian-born billionaire was held for 96 hours before being released to face court in a criminal investigation.

Telegram founder Pavel Durov was released from police custody in France on Wednesday and transferred to a Paris court for questioning, potentially leading to an indictment. 

The 39-year-old Russian-born billionaire, who was arrested over the weekend, spent 96 hours in custody—the maximum allowed under French law—before being moved to court, according to CNN.

French prosecutors have confirmed that Durov is facing "initial questioning and possible indictment" as part of an ongoing investigation into organized crime activities linked to the Telegram messaging app. 

The investigation, which targets unspecified individuals, includes serious charges such as enabling illicit transactions, facilitating the distribution of child abuse material, drug trafficking, and providing cryptographic services to criminals.

Being placed under formal investigation in France does not imply guilt but indicates that judges believe there is enough evidence to proceed with the probe. 

If Durov is formally indicted, the court will also decide whether to place him in pretrial detention, considering factors such as his potential flight risk. 

Durov holds dual citizenship in France and the United Arab Emirates and has an estimated net worth exceeding $9 billion.

French authorities have also issued an arrest warrant for Durov’s brother, Nikolai, a co-founder of Telegram, as part of the broader investigation into the platform. 

The warrants were reportedly issued in March, though the Paris prosecutor’s office has declined to confirm details due to the secrecy of the investigation.

Durov’s arrest has drawn attention to the contentious relationship between governments and Telegram, a platform celebrated for its robust encryption but also criticized for its use by extremists and criminals. 

Despite the app's popularity in France, including among government officials, French investigators have raised concerns about its role in illegal activities.

Telegram responded to the arrest, stating that the company adheres to European Union laws and continuously improves its content moderation. 

The platform dismissed the accusations, calling it "absurd" to hold the company or its owner responsible for abuse by users.

Durov’s arrest has also sparked protests from free speech advocates, who argue that his detention is politically motivated, especially after the app was used by anti-government demonstrators to organize protests. 

French President Emmanuel Macron, however, insisted that the charges against Durov are not politically driven.

Durov, who fled Russia in 2014 and has lived in self-imposed exile, is no stranger to government pressure. 

Before founding Telegram, he created VKontakte, Russia’s largest social network, earning him the title of "Russia’s Mark Zuckerberg." 

His departure from Russia followed demands from authorities to take down opposition activists' online communities and to hand over user data, which Durov refused.