Telegram CEO Pavel Durov Banned From Leaving France

Telegram CEO Pavel Durov has been placed under formal investigation in France as part of an investigation into organised crime on the platform. At the same time, French authorities granted Pavel Durov bail on condition he pays 5 million euros, reports twice a week to police, and does not leave country.

The 39-year-old billionaire was arrested at an airport near Paris on Saturday under a warrant for offences related to Telegram. Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau reportedly said in a statement that the judge found there were grounds to formally investigate Durov on all the charges for which he was initially arrested. The charges include suspected complicity in running an online platform that allows illicit transactions as well as the refusal to communicate information to authorities.

According to a BBC report, being put under formal investigation in France does not imply guilt or necessarily result in a trial. Notably, investigations may last years before being sent to trial or shelved. Earlier on Monday, Telegram said in a statement that it abided by European Union laws and its moderation was "within industry standards and constantly improving." Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron said that the arrest of Pavel Durov was not a political move but part of an independent investigation.