Pavel Durov just made his first appearance in a Paris court to tackle some serious allegations regarding his messaging app’s involvement in criminal activities.
Durov was arrested back in August at a Paris airport and has since been charged with multiple counts for not doing enough to stop extremist and terrorist content from spreading on the platform.
For our safety
Durov arrived at the hearing, accompanied by his legal team, David-Olivier Kaminski and Christophe Ingrain, and sources close to the situation revealed that the questioning focused on claims that Telegram has been used for illegal transactions.
When approached by Agence France-Presse for comments, Durov kept it vague, expressing confidence in the French justice system but not revealing specifics about the case.
Russia, Dubai, France
Durov left his home country after Telegram was banned in Russia from 2018 to 2021 due to a standoff with the Russian government over user data requests, requests he firmly refused.
He eventually became a French citizen in 2021, although he had been living in Dubai for several years before his legal troubles began.
In Dubai, he was often referred to as the youngest and richest billionaire in the Middle East.
Legal troubles
Durov’s legal sh*tstorm took a turn on August 24, when he was detained at Le Bourget airport in Paris.
Afterward, he was released on bail of around $6 million, but he’s still under restrictions and can’t leave France until March 2025.
The Paris prosecutor’s office officially charged him on August 28, accusing him of facilitating a platform that allows illicit transactions, and if found guilty, Durov could face up to 10 years in prison.
The investigation into Telegram kicked off back in February 2024, escalating into a judicial inquiry by July 8, just over a month before Durov’s arrest.
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