PARIS: A French court in Paris has granted Pavel Durov, the Founder of Telegram, conditional bail. Durov is facing criminal charges in France and is currently not allowed to leave the country while the investigation continues.

French police arrested Pavel Durov, the billionaire founder and CEO of Telegram, at Le Bourget airport near Paris on Saturday. Durov was detained on a warrant related to alleged criminal activities associated with his popular messaging app, according to reports from news agencies.

Durov was traveling on his private jet from Azerbaijan when he was apprehended around 8 pm local time (1800 GMT), as reported by agencies. His detention was extended by an investigating magistrate on Sunday evening.

Under French law, the initial detention period for questioning is limited to 96 hours. However, this period can be extended if approved by a judge.

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On Monday, French President Emmanuel Macron addressed the situation, stating that Durov’s arrest was not influenced by politics. Macron clarified that the arrest is part of an independent investigation. He reassured the public that France remains committed to protecting freedom of speech and expression. Macron emphasized that the judicial process will determine Durov’s guilt or innocence and assured that the government would not interfere in the legal proceedings.