Telegram CEO Pavel Durov indicted on multiple charges in France, released on bail

French authorities have indicted Telegram CEO Pavel Durov on six serious charges, including complicity in the distribution of child pornography, drug trafficking, and operating an illegal online platform for organized crime.

Durov was released on a €5 million bail but remains under strict conditions, including a ban on leaving France and a requirement to check in at a police station twice weekly.

The indictment follows Durov’s detention at Paris’ Le Bourget airport on Saturday night, amid an ongoing investigation into criminal activities on Telegram, a messaging app he co-founded.

Despite these developments, Telegram has strongly denied any involvement in illegal activities, asserting that it complies with all EU regulations.

In a statement released on Sunday, the company defended Durov, claiming he has “nothing to hide” and rejecting the accusations against him.

The case has sparked widespread attention, given the app’s controversial history with issues like fraud, organized crime, and cyber-bullying.