4 ms·

This is extremely interesting. At first people expected him to be jailed, because he obviously has means to leave France and never get caught again, but then a

This is extremely interesting. At first people expected him to be jailed, because he obviously has means to leave France and never get caught again, but then analysts pointed out that he knew there was a warrant in France to get him and that he decided to land in France anyway, so they raised the question that maybe he came voluntarily in order to strike a deal with French authorities. The fact that he's now free from custody sounds like this analysis was likely the right one.

morkalork 2y ago
If that's the case, staying in custody may have been the wiser choice.
- littlestymaar 2y ago
  He's better protected by French secret services than in jail, especially if the threat is FSB…
wkat4242 2y ago
If that were the case, why did they make such a fuss in the media about arresting him though? If they wanted to make a deal with him that wouldn't really be helpful. Personally I think the legal basis for his arrest is just so thin that bail was granted. After all he is not personally responsible. The buck stops with him, sure but he didn't personally partake in any of the alleged activity on telegram. Keeping a person in custody is a very heavy measure that a judge won't grant lightly.
- bryanlarsen 2y ago
  The media would make a huge fuss no matter what.
- SiempreViernes 2y ago
  The media made a lot of fuss about the arrest, not the French government. So far as I can tell the French didn't say much of anything, which is why there is so much confusion about what happened.
- helsinkiandrew 2y ago
  > The buck stops with him, sure but he didn't personally partake in any of the alleged activity on telegram. I thought he was arrested for not complying with search/trace/takedown warrants against people who were (possibly) doing illegal activity. If that is true he presumably would be responsible.
- diggan 2y ago
  > The buck stops with him, sure but he didn't personally partake in any of the alleged activity on telegram. He's not accused of personally partaking in anything, the arrest warrant is about Telegram as a platform not working on removing content that broke the law, even when notified about it.
  - manofmanysmiles 2y ago
    What is he accused of? I can't find any sources that say any more than that, he was arrested, and that the warrant was issued by a team investigating larger issues.
    - diggan 2y ago
      Here you have the accusations, directly from the prosecutors: https://www.tribunal-de-paris.justice.fr/sites/default/files/2024-08/2024-08-26%20-%20CP%20TELEGRAM%20.pdf https://www.tribunal-de-paris.justice.fr/sites/default/files...
  - wkat4242 2y ago
    Yes but that is the company Telegram, not him personally. Keeping a person in custody is a very heavy handed measure. And not very effective. Telegram can easily replace him as CEO with someone else after all.
- croes 2y ago
  They don't need him in jail until the court case starts. He can't run away without looking guilty.
deadlydose 2y ago
> The fact that he's now free from custody sounds like this analysis was likely the right one. Or they released him because they're required to by law? Normally they need to release you after 24h, but in some cases of organized crime or terrorism, they can extend it to 72+h. https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/codes/article_lc/LEGIARTI000032655481 https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/codes/article_lc/LEGIARTI0000...
- littlestymaar 2y ago
  Police must release you but the judge charged of leading the case can chose to jail you in a “preventive” fashion (It's literally called «détention préventive») if your odds of hiding or leaving the country are considered too high.
  - p4bl0 2y ago
    You can generally avoid détention préventive if you are able to provide good garanties de re-présentation, i.e., if you can convince the judge that even if they release you, you will show up to court when asked to. These documents are generally proof of insertion in active life (having a stable job, family, etc.) that should prevent you from disappearing (e.g., in order not to lose your job). I don't know what those would be in this case. But then again, the justice system is never exactly the same for people in positions of power, as Durov is.
    - bobthepanda 2y ago
      I mean this is also how American bail generally works. Durov doesn't have a lot of permanent residency-style connection to France, and also has a lot of money though, so has the motive and means to flee.
- throwaway48540 2y ago
  Not if there is a risk that you will run away. That jail time shortens a potential prison sentence.
bleuchase 2y ago
Regardless of what did or did not happen the whole thing smells to high heaven. This is analogous to when authorities take your device out of your sight. It must be considered compromised after that.
red_trumpet 2y ago
> he knew there was a warrant in France to get him Do you have a reference for this claim? I've read this here or there, but always without any evidence. Was the arrest warrant public before he decided to land in France?
- littlestymaar 2y ago
  I got this from the Twitter of Gerard Araud, former French ambassador in the US who usually posts informed tweets.

morkalork 2y ago

If that's the case, staying in custody may have been the wiser choice.

littlestymaar 2y ago
He's better protected by French secret services than in jail, especially if the threat is FSB…

wkat4242 2y ago

If that were the case, why did they make such a fuss in the media about arresting him though? If they wanted to make a deal with him that wouldn't really be helpful. Personally I think the legal basis for his arrest is just so thin that bail was granted. After all he is not personally responsible. The buck stops with him, sure but he didn't personally partake in any of the alleged activity on telegram. Keeping a person in custody is a very heavy measure that a judge won't grant lightly.

bryanlarsen 2y ago
The media would make a huge fuss no matter what.
SiempreViernes 2y ago
The media made a lot of fuss about the arrest, not the French government. So far as I can tell the French didn't say much of anything, which is why there is so much confusion about what happened.
helsinkiandrew 2y ago
> The buck stops with him, sure but he didn't personally partake in any of the alleged activity on telegram. I thought he was arrested for not complying with search/trace/takedown warrants against people who were (possibly) doing illegal activity. If that is true he presumably would be responsible.
diggan 2y ago
> The buck stops with him, sure but he didn't personally partake in any of the alleged activity on telegram. He's not accused of personally partaking in anything, the arrest warrant is about Telegram as a platform not working on removing content that broke the law, even when notified about it.
- manofmanysmiles 2y ago
  What is he accused of? I can't find any sources that say any more than that, he was arrested, and that the warrant was issued by a team investigating larger issues.
  - diggan 2y ago
    Here you have the accusations, directly from the prosecutors: https://www.tribunal-de-paris.justice.fr/sites/default/files/2024-08/2024-08-26%20-%20CP%20TELEGRAM%20.pdf https://www.tribunal-de-paris.justice.fr/sites/default/files...
- wkat4242 2y ago
  Yes but that is the company Telegram, not him personally. Keeping a person in custody is a very heavy handed measure. And not very effective. Telegram can easily replace him as CEO with someone else after all.
croes 2y ago
They don't need him in jail until the court case starts. He can't run away without looking guilty.

deadlydose 2y ago

> The fact that he's now free from custody sounds like this analysis was likely the right one. Or they released him because they're required to by law? Normally they need to release you after 24h, but in some cases of organized crime or terrorism, they can extend it to 72+h. https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/codes/article_lc/LEGIARTI000032655481 https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/codes/article_lc/LEGIARTI0000...

littlestymaar 2y ago
Police must release you but the judge charged of leading the case can chose to jail you in a “preventive” fashion (It's literally called «détention préventive») if your odds of hiding or leaving the country are considered too high.
- p4bl0 2y ago
  You can generally avoid détention préventive if you are able to provide good garanties de re-présentation, i.e., if you can convince the judge that even if they release you, you will show up to court when asked to. These documents are generally proof of insertion in active life (having a stable job, family, etc.) that should prevent you from disappearing (e.g., in order not to lose your job). I don't know what those would be in this case. But then again, the justice system is never exactly the same for people in positions of power, as Durov is.
  - bobthepanda 2y ago
    I mean this is also how American bail generally works. Durov doesn't have a lot of permanent residency-style connection to France, and also has a lot of money though, so has the motive and means to flee.
throwaway48540 2y ago
Not if there is a risk that you will run away. That jail time shortens a potential prison sentence.

bleuchase 2y ago

Regardless of what did or did not happen the whole thing smells to high heaven. This is analogous to when authorities take your device out of your sight. It must be considered compromised after that.

red_trumpet 2y ago

> he knew there was a warrant in France to get him Do you have a reference for this claim? I've read this here or there, but always without any evidence. Was the arrest warrant public before he decided to land in France?

littlestymaar 2y ago
I got this from the Twitter of Gerard Araud, former French ambassador in the US who usually posts informed tweets.