Prosecutors announced that the arrest was part of an investigation into an unnamed individual over cryptology services and complicity with illicit activities.
France’s prosecutor’s office has released more information regarding the arrest of Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov on Aug. 24.
In an Aug. 26 notice, French prosecutors said Durov had been taken into custody as part of a judicial investigation “against person unnamed” on charges, including complicity with illegal activities, refusal to communicate to authorities, money laundering, criminal association and providing cryptology services without prior declaration. Authorities said they intended to question the Telegram founder as part of this investigation and had extended the timeframe for his custody from Aug. 25 to Aug. 28.
The announcement followed French President Emmanuel Macron responding to what he referred to as “false information” on social media about Durov’s arrest. The president said the arrest was “in no way a political decision” and France was “deeply committed to freedom of expression.”
