French authorities issue preliminary charges against Telegram CEO Pavel Durov

The case has called attention to the challenges of policing illegal activity online, as well as Durov’s unusual biography and multiple passports

Telegram co-founder Pavel Durov speaks during a press conference in Jakarta, Indonesia in 2017. File Picture: Tatan Syuflana/AP

French authorities have handed Telegram chief executive Pavel Durov preliminary charges for allowing alleged criminal activity on his messaging app, and barred him from leaving France pending further investigation.

Durov was detained on Saturday at Le Bourget airport outside Paris as part of a sweeping judicial inquiry opened last month, and released earlier on Wednesday after four days of questioning.