Updated: August 28, 2024 4:24 PM EDT
Telegram CEO Pavel Durov was indicted by a French court on Wednesday, according to Bloomberg.
According to the report, Durov was charged with “complicity in the distribution of child sexual imagery through messaging apps and drug trafficking.”
French authorities said Durov had been released but was under “judicial supervision,” according to Reuters, adding that the Telegram founder must remain in France. Durov must also post a 5 million euro bond, the news agency reported.
Earlier that day, Durov appeared in court after being released by French police. The initial arrest was the result of a wide-ranging cybercrime investigation that included allegations that Telegram provided encryption tools and services that facilitated money laundering, child pornography, and drug trafficking.
Since his arrest, prominent figures in the cryptocurrency community, TON developers, and the TON Society, an organization that promotes the TON blockchain, have all spoken out in support of Durov’s release.
French President Emmanuel Macron said Durov’s arrest was part of an ongoing judicial investigation and “was not in any way a political decision.”
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About the Author
RT Watson is a senior reporter at The Block, covering a wide range of topics including corporate America, blockchain gaming, and NFTs. Previously, he covered entertainment at The Wall Street Journal, writing about Disney, Netflix, Warner Bros., and the creator economy, with a focus on technological disruption across media. Prior to that, he covered corporate, economic, and political news in Brazil at Bloomberg. RT has interviewed a wide range of people, including CEOs, media moguls, major influencers, politicians, blue-collar workers, drug dealers, and convicted criminals. He holds a Master’s degree in Digital Sociology.