Telegram founder Pavel Durov is banned from leaving France as authorities intensify their criminal investigation

Telegram founder Pavel Durov has been banned from leaving France as authorities have launched an official investigation against him as part of an investigation into criminal activity on his messaging app.

Durov, 39, was released on bail on Wednesday after four days of questioning after being arrested at Le Bourget airport outside Paris on Saturday.

The Telegram boss was released under judicial supervision, on the condition that he post bail of five million euros, report to the police twice a week and not leave the country.

Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau said in a statement that the judge considered there were grounds to officially investigate Mr Durov on all the charges that led to his initial arrest four days ago.

These include suspicion of complicity in operating an online platform that facilitates illegal transactions, child sexual abuse images, drug trafficking and fraud, as well as refusal to provide information to authorities, money laundering and providing cryptographic services to criminals.

In France, the opening of a formal investigation does not automatically mean guilt, nor does it necessarily lead to a trial. However, it does indicate that judges believe there is enough evidence to proceed with the investigation. Investigations can take years before they are brought to court or closed.

Mr Durov's lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but following his arrest, Telegram said: “It is absurd to claim that a platform or its owner is responsible for the misuse of this platform. Nearly a billion users around the world use Telegram as a means of communication and as a source of important information. We are waiting for a speedy resolution of this situation. Telegram is with you all.”

The platform added that it complies with EU laws and its moderation “meets industry standards and is constantly improving.”

Russian officials have expressed outrage at Mr Durov's detention, with some calling it politically motivated and evidence of the West's double standards on freedom of speech. The outcry has drawn ire from Kremlin critics: in 2018, Russian authorities themselves tried to block Telegram but failed, lifting the ban in 2020.

Elsewhere, Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of X who describes himself as a “champion of absolute freedom of speech”, has spoken out in support of Mr Durov, posting the hashtag “#freePavel” after the arrest.

French President Emmanuel Macron, who is considered an avid user of the app, said Mr Durov's arrest was “in no way a political decision”, adding that France supports legitimate freedom of expression.

A source close to the president said Macron had lunch with Durov in 2018 as part of a series of meetings with technology entrepreneurs. In 2021, Durov was granted French citizenship in a rare process for high-level figures.

On X (formerly Twitter), Macron posted that his country was “deeply committed” to freedom of expression, but “freedoms are safeguarded both on social media and in real life within a legal framework to protect citizens and respect their fundamental rights.”

According to Mr. Durov, Telegram had 950 million active users in July 2024, making it the fourth most popular messaging platform in the world after WhatsApp, WeChat and Facebook Messenger.

The Russian exile rarely gives media interviews but often shares personal news and insights through his Telegram channel, which has more than 11 million subscribers.

The tech billionaire has been dubbed Russia's Mark Zuckerberg for his role in founding social media platform VK. He was forced to leave the company in 2014 after refusing to comply with government demands and reveal information about protesters active on the site.

He continued to run Telegram from Dubai after acquiring dual citizenship of the United Arab Emirates and France, and traveled regularly throughout Asia, the Middle East and Europe before his arrest on Saturday.

The app is controversial because it is used by everyone from Isis to the recent rioters in the UK, who organize and share information in private groups. Telegram says that “calls for violence” are explicitly banned and that any channels containing them will be removed.