Telegram founder Pavel Durov renewed his attack on the French criminal investigation that led to his arrest one year ago, calling the case “legally and logically absurd” and saying authorities have still not produced evidence of wrongdoing by him or the encrypted-messaging platform. Durov, 40, was detained on 24 August 2024 at Le Bourget airport outside Paris and held for four days before being released on €5 million bail. He remains under judicial supervision and must return to France every 14 days, although a Paris court relaxed the order in July, permitting temporary stays in Dubai, where Telegram’s headquarters are located. French prosecutors accuse the Franco-Russian entrepreneur of complicity in distributing child sexual-abuse material, facilitating narcotics sales and organised fraud after investigators alleged the app failed to curb illicit activity. Court documents list 17 counts. Durov maintains Telegram’s moderation meets industry standards and says the company has complied with every legally binding request from France. The probe’s duration and its focus on a platform executive have drawn scrutiny over France’s approach to encrypted services. Durov warned that the case is damaging the country’s reputation for free expression and vowed to continue contesting the charges.