A French court in Paris has granted conditional release to Pavel Durov, the CEO of Telegram, who is facing criminal charges in France. He is prohibited from leaving the country until the court makes decisions regarding his arrest file.
French authorities apprehended Pavel Durov at Le Bourget Airport, north of Paris, last Saturday evening. He was detained following a search warrant issued by the French Public Prosecution. French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized in a statement that Durov's arrest was not politically motivated, but occurred within the context of an independent judicial investigation.
Macron further stated that France is steadfast in its commitment to freedom of expression and communication. He noted that the outcome of the judicial investigations will ascertain Durov's guilt or innocence, and the government will not intervene in the judicial process.
