Pavel Durov, founder of Telegram, has been placed under formal investigation and will not be allowed to leave France, a French prosecutor said in a statement released Wednesday night.
The conditions for the Russian billionaire are judicial supervision, with a bail set at 5.56 million dollars, and he will have to report to the French police station twice a week and is forbidden from leaving French territory.
Pavel Durov was arrested in Paris
Durov was released from police custody in France and transferred to a court to be interrogated earlier that same day. The dramatic arrest of the owner of Telegram took place in Paris and he was informed that he would face an "initial interrogation and possible charges" in a court in the French capital.
Durov, 39, was arrested on Saturday at the Bourget airport in Paris on a legal order related to Telegram's lack of moderation.
Ongoing investigation against Durov
The Russian man was being investigated for charges related to a series of crimes, such as accusations that his platform was complicit in scams, drug traffickers, and individuals spreading child pornography.
Telegram, due to lack of moderation in its content, is also criticized for being used by terrorist groups and far-right extremists.
Durov was in custody for 96 hours
Pavel Durov was held in police custody for 96 hours, the maximum amount of time someone can be detained under French law before being charged.
Russia and Ukraine wish for Durov's release
Both Russia and Ukraine are concerned about their leader, as he is a very popular figure and has become a key communication tool between the military personnel and the citizens during Moscow's war against its neighbor.
Even Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said: “It seems to me that all this has once again demonstrated the true attitude of the French leaders, who have blatantly trampled on international norms regarding the protection of freedom of expression and opinion, for one reason only: because if they protect certain norms, they not only must comply with them, but they must protect and enforce them.”