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Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov was arrested at Le Bourget airport near Paris on 24 August 2024, in connection with a French judicial investigation into alleged offenses involving the platform. Prosecutors outlined the allegations; they are not findings of guilt. Durov was later placed under formal investigation and released under judicial supervision. The latest status located here is an Associated Press report from 2026, which said the investigation remained open.
Where and when was Durov arrested?
The Paris prosecutor’s office said Durov was arrested at Le Bourget airport, outside Paris, on Saturday, 24 August 2024, and taken into police custody at 8 p.m. The prosecutor’s statement, issued on 26 August, confirmed the arrest initially reported by French media: Paris prosecutor’s office statement.
The office said the arrest was part of a judicial investigation opened on 8 July 2024, after a preliminary inquiry by the Paris prosecutor’s cybercrime section. The investigation was formally opened against an unnamed person.
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The prosecutor’s statement listed allegations related to Telegram and alleged criminal activity. They describe the scope of the investigation, not proven conduct by Durov:
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- Alleged complicity in managing an online platform to enable illegal transactions as part of an organized group.
- Alleged refusal to provide information or documents needed for interceptions authorized by law.
- Alleged complicity related to child sexual abuse material, narcotics, organized fraud and criminal association.
- Alleged laundering of proceeds from organized crimes.
- Three cryptology-related offenses concerning declaration requirements.
The allegations did not include terrorism-related offenses, according to Le Monde’s 27 August 2024 explainer. Le Monde also described the cryptology counts as concerning declaration requirements, not as an announced demand for Telegram’s encryption keys. Its explainer said Telegram messages are not encrypted end to end by default; that feature is available in optional Secret Conversations. These are Le Monde’s explanations, not an independent technical audit.
What happened after the arrest?
Under the procedure cited for the organized-crime allegations, prosecutors said police custody could last up to 96 hours. On 28 August 2024, Durov was placed under formal investigation for all twelve offenses in the initial indictment and released under judicial supervision, according to Le Monde’s report.
The conditions reported at that time included a €5 million bond, reporting to police twice a week and a ban on leaving France. Being placed under formal investigation is a procedural step in France, not a conviction.
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The latest status located is from an Associated Press report in 2026. AP said the Paris prosecutor’s office told it that Durov remained under formal investigation and had been questioned repeatedly, most recently that month. That is the status reported by AP at the time, not a guarantee that the case remains unchanged: Associated Press report.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the arrest does—and does not—establish
The prosecutor’s statement establishes the arrest and the stated legal context. The subsequent reporting establishes that Durov was formally investigated and released under supervision. Neither establishes guilt. The cited material also does not establish that the case was politically motivated or that authorities arrested him to force Telegram to disclose encryption keys.
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