French court grants conditional bail to Telegram founder, imposes travel ban

A French court in Paris has granted conditional bail to Pavel Durov, Founder of Telegram. Durov is facing criminal charges in France and has been prohibited from leaving the country pending further investigation.

French authorities arrested Durov at Le Bourget Airport north of Paris last Saturday, acting on an arrest warrant issued by the French public prosecutor's office.

French President Emmanuel Macron stated on Monday that Durov's arrest was not politically motivated but rather part of an ongoing independent investigation. He underscored France's unwavering commitment to freedom of speech and expression, emphasising that the judicial process will determine Durov's guilt or innocence. Macron added that the government would not interfere with the course of justice.

WAM