Pavel Durov, the CEO and founder of Telegram, has been released on a $5.5 million bail following his arrest and subsequent criminal charges in France. French prosecutors have charged Durov with several offenses related to his role at Telegram, including complicity in illegal activities, money laundering, criminal association, refusal to cooperate with authorities, and providing cryptology services without prior declaration.
After his arrest on August 24 at an airport near Paris, Durov was brought before a court where he was officially charged. He has been placed under judicial supervision, barred from leaving France, and required to post bail for his release.
A video widely circulated by Russian state media outlet RIA Novosti shows Durov leaving a Paris courthouse on August 28. The charges against him stem from a judicial investigation initiated in July, targeting unnamed individuals.
This incident comes amid other high-profile legal actions in the tech and cryptocurrency world, including a Wells notice issued to OpenSea by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the stabbing of a South Korean crypto entrepreneur during a court hearing.
