Telegram founder Pavel Durov was brought before a court after being arrested and held by police for 96 hours.
According to a report by France 24, on Wednesday, August 28, authorities transferred Durov to court after the four-day period during which a person can be detained before appearing in court expired.
Durov’s arrest sparked widespread international protest, with many describing it as an affront to free speech.
Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino called the situation “very concerning.”
Charges Against Durov
The 39-year-old billionaire faces allegations related to regulatory violations tied to his Telegram messaging app, primarily centered on a failure to moderate content.
Authorities have also accused him of involvement in fraud schemes and drug trafficking, among other claims.
🚨 BREAKING: TELEGRAM CEO PAVEL DUROV RELEASED FROM CUSTODY
Telegram founder Pavel Durov has been released from French custody after his arrest at Paris’s Le Bourget Airport.
Durov was detained amid allegations of failing to moderate illegal content on Telegram, including… pic.twitter.com/WKjg5TLq53
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) August 28, 2024
Born in Russia, Durov holds citizenship in France and the United Arab Emirates. He founded Telegram a decade ago; the encrypted messaging service has since grown exponentially and is reported to have more than 950 million users.
In recent months, Telegram has emerged as a popular destination for cryptocurrency-related activity and “earn-by-click” schemes, with integration of the TON blockchain playing a key role in that growth.
Following his arrest, the Toncoin (TON) token plunged by more than 20%.