Pavel Durov Faces Serious Charges in French Court
In a significant legal development, Pavel Durov, the CEO and co-founder of Telegram, found himself facing serious charges in a French court on August 28. The allegations against him include complicity in the distribution of sexual images of children and involvement in drug trafficking facilitated through the messaging platform, as reported by Reuters.
Paris prosecutor Laure Beccou announced that the judge had determined sufficient grounds for a formal investigation into the twelve charges that led to Durov's detention just days prior. These charges encompass a range of serious offenses, including:
- Complicity in managing an online platform that enables illegal transactions
- Child pornography
- Drug trafficking
- Fraud
- Failure to provide information to authorities
- Money laundering
- Providing cryptographic services to criminals
Following his arrest at Le Bourget airport on August 24, where he arrived in a private jet, Durov was granted bail under strict conditions. He is required to pay €5 million (approximately $5.6 million), report to police bi-weekly, and remain within French territory.
Durov, who was born in St. Petersburg and acquired French citizenship in 2021, is believed to reside in Dubai. Reports indicate that France had issued arrest warrants for both Pavel and his brother Nikolai Durov, co-founders of Telegram, as early as March. This investigation into Telegram appears to be more extensive than previously understood, having reportedly commenced several months prior to the public charges.
With a net worth estimated at $15.5 billion, Durov has a complex history with Russia. He left the country in 2014 after resisting government demands to shut down opposition communities on the Russian social media platform VK, which he subsequently sold. Despite his claims of being exiled, recent reports suggest he has returned to Russia over sixty times since his departure.
Telegram remains a widely used platform in Ukraine, with a September 2023 poll indicating that 44% of Ukrainians utilize it for news and information. This popularity persists despite ongoing concerns regarding the platform's security and the potential for misuse, particularly in the context of the ongoing conflict in the region.
