Highlights:
- French authorities released Pavel Durov on €5 million bail after four days.
- He is banned from leaving France and is facing several serious charges.
- Toncoin’s price and trading volume surged following the release.
On August 28, Telegram CEO Pavel Durov was released on bail set at 5 million euros (about $5.5 million) after being charged in France. Durov is prohibited from leaving France and must report to the police station twice a week as part of his bond conditions.
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Telegram founder Pavel Durov is under formal investigation and will not be allowed to leave France. He must remain in the country under judicial supervision, with a bail set at $5.56 million, and is required to report to the French police station twice a week. The suspected acts…
— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) August 28, 2024
French authorities charged Durov with several offenses, including complicity in managing a platform for illegal transactions and failing to cooperate with law enforcement. Detained on August 24, he is now under formal investigation. Police took Durov to court after his detention at an airport north of Paris on August 24. Authorities initially extended his custody to August 28, when he was expected to be either released or face charges in court.
Following his arrest, prosecutors stated that the Telegram founder had been taken into custody as part of a judicial investigation from July “against an unnamed individual.” Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau stated that Telegram is linked to several serious crimes, including child exploitation, money laundering, drug trafficking, and online hate crimes.
She highlighted Telegram’s “near-total absence” of response to Paris prosecutors’ cooperation requests, which contributed to the charges against Durov. Durov is also reportedly facing child abuse allegations in Switzerland, unrelated to the French case.
The Wall Street Journal also reported that between 2017 and 2018, Durov allegedly met with French President Emmanuel Macron to discuss moving Telegram to France and securing French citizenship. Additionally, French spies are said to have collaborated with the UAE to hack Durov’s phone.
Durov’s Detention Sparks Free Speech Debate
Many of Durov’s defenders have criticized French authorities for detaining the Telegram CEO, arguing that the action represents an attack on freedom of expression. As of 2024, Telegram had over 900 million monthly active users. Holding Durov accountable in court for illegal activities could set a precedent affecting social media leaders like Zuckerberg and Musk.
After Durov’s arrest, Tesla CEO Elon Musk posted #FreePavel on X. Supporters also used #FreePavel and #FreeDurov to protest and call for Durov’s release.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 25, 2024
French President Emmanuel Macron denied any political motive behind Durov’s arrest, but questions persist after four days.
I have seen false information regarding France following the arrest of Pavel Durov.
France is deeply committed to freedom of expression and communication, to innovation, and to the spirit of entrepreneurship. It will remain so.
In a state governed by the rule of law,…
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) August 26, 2024
Durov has faced criticism from child safety groups. They argue that the platform has become a hub for CSAM and is uncooperative in addressing the issue. Telegram has stated that it uses a combination of moderators, AI, and user reports to remove CSAM from public channels. However, the platform has not provided a method for reporting illegal activity in private chats. Additionally, the case highlights the complex relationship between technology firms and regulatory authorities.
Durov’s Release and Legal Issues Impact Toncoin Price
Pavel Durov’s release under judicial supervision underscores the ongoing tension between social media platforms and government authorities. Toncoin’s price climbed to $5.54, reflecting a more than 3.59% increase in the last 24 hours. Trading volume also soared by over 97% to $1.47 billion in the past 24 hours.
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