Pavel Durov, the founder of the popular messaging app Telegram, is currently under formal investigation in France and has been restricted from leaving the country, according to a statement by a French prosecutor released on Wednesday night.

The Russian-born entrepreneur is being investigated on several charges, including complicity in illegal activities facilitated by his platform, involvement in organized crime, and failure to provide information to authorities, the statement revealed.

Under judicial supervision, Durov is required to stay in France and report to the local police station twice a week. His bail has been set at 5 million euros (approximately $5.56 million).

Durov’s investigation follows his recent arrest at a Paris airport and subsequent release from police custody earlier in the day. Despite this formal investigation, Durov has not been charged, and the process does not imply guilt under French law. It does, however, suggest that prosecutors have gathered enough evidence to warrant a thorough examination of the case.

The statement from the prosecutor's office also noted that the French National Office for Minors has criticized Telegram for its "near absence of response" to legal requests related to crimes such as trafficking, online hate speech, and child exploitation. The potential charges could lead to a prison sentence of up to 10 years if Durov is found guilty of complicity in enabling illegal transactions through Telegram.

Durov was detained over the weekend at Paris’s Bourget Airport under allegations related to Telegram’s limited content moderation, which has been a subject of concern for its alleged use by fraudsters, drug traffickers, and those disseminating child pornography. The platform has also faced scrutiny for being used by terrorist organizations and extremist groups.

The arrest sparked a significant debate over freedom of speech, especially in Ukraine and Russia, where Telegram is extensively used. Russian officials criticized France for detaining Durov, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova accusing Paris of undermining international norms concerning freedom of speech.

Despite concerns over the app's future in Russia, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov sought to reassure users, dismissing fears and advising against deleting sensitive information from the app.

French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized that the legal actions against Durov were "in no way political," underscoring the independence of the judicial process.

Telegram, launched in 2013 by Pavel and his brother Nikolai Durov, now boasts over 950 million users worldwide. The app's encryption capabilities have made it a popular choice for secure communications, though it has also been criticized for allowing illicit activities.

Durov, often referred to as the "Mark Zuckerberg of Russia," left his homeland in 2014 and now resides in Dubai. Despite the controversies surrounding Telegram, he remains a staunch advocate for privacy and freedom of speech.