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Telegram’s Durov Held in France Over Cryptic Charges: ‘I Don’t Know What’s Happening’
When French authorities spotted Pavel Durov‘s name on a passenger list in August 2024, they knew exactly what to do. The Telegram founder was arrested at Paris–Le Bourget Airport as he stepped off a private jet from Azerbaijan, accompanied by a woman and a bodyguard. The Air Transport Gendarmerie and France’s National Anti-Fraud Office executed the arrest warrant that had been waiting for him.
French prosecutors hit Durov with six charges that could land him a decade behind bars. The charges include complicity in criminal activity, refusing to cooperate with authorities, money laundering, criminal association, providing crypto services without proper declaration, and spreading illicit content. Prosecutors claim Telegram’s limited moderation has turned it into a haven for illegal activities.
Six charges against Telegram’s founder could mean a decade in prison for enabling criminal activities through limited moderation.
Durov seems genuinely puzzled by the whole situation. He insists Telegram follows international laws and undergoes audits by Big Four accounting firms. The tech mogul points out he spends millions each quarter on legal compliance and works with major financial institutions. Despite these claims, his platform removes millions of posts and channels daily as part of its moderation efforts. Following his arrest, Telegram made significant changes by updating its FAQ to allow reporting of private chats for the first time.
Yet French authorities argue he hasn’t cooperated fully with their judicial inquiries. The arrest timing raised eyebrows, coming right after speculation about Durov meeting Russian officials in Azerbaijan. Some see this as part of Europe’s broader crackdown on digital privacy and compliance issues. Telegram operates in nearly 200 countries, maneuvering a complex web of regulations that would make anyone’s head spin.
Since August 2024, Durov has been under house arrest or legal supervision with travel restrictions. In March 2025, an investigating judge granted him temporary permission to leave France, but he must return for legal proceedings. When briefly allowed to travel, Durov said it “feels great to be home,” though he remains banned from leaving France without official permission.
As a French citizen, Durov will stand trial in France. The investigation continues to examine alleged illicit activities on Telegram. Meanwhile, Durov questions the transparency and motives behind his arrest, suggesting political or procedural grounds might be at play.
For now, the Telegram founder remains in legal limbo, waiting to see what happens next in this high-stakes game of regulatory chess.