AFP reports that Pavel Durov is under investigation for allegations of child abuse, adding to the controversies surrounding the Telegram CEO.
On Wednesday, AFP reported that French authorities initiated an inquiry into accusations of “severe acts of violence” against his son by Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of Telegram. This investigation is unrelated to a current examination into his alleged involvement in various criminal activities.
On Wednesday, a Russian citizen aged 39 with citizenship in France, the UAE and St. Kitts and Nevis appeared before a Paris court. Although no formal indictments have been made against him in either French case as of yet, it is anticipated that there will be an overnight decision on Wednesday.
Paris prosecutors have suggested that Durov may face a total of 12 criminal charges, among them being aiding in the distribution of illicit drugs and weapons. Apparently, an individual who remains anonymous exploited Durov’s application to carry out these illegal activities. Owing to his reluctance to effectively cooperate with law enforcement officials by surrendering this user’s information, he is presently under investigation for such purported crimes; as per Politico news outlet earlier today.
AFP news agency reported that Durov was being investigated for “serious acts of violence” against his six-year-old son shortly after he arrived at the court. The investigation, opened by France’s child welfare office and cited from “a source close to the case,” is ongoing.
READ ALSO: Russia Demands Explanation from France Over Durov’s Arrest
Durov’s son was born in Russia, but now he lives with his mother Irina Bolgar in Switzerland. It is not known if the investigation relates to a criminal complaint filed against Durov by Bolgar last year. Forbes has seen court documents where Bolger accused her former partner of committing five instances of violence towards their child before opening up a custody case.
Forbes reported that after Durov reportedly ceased paying Bolgar €150,000 ($167,500) per month in child support , both cases were filed. Additionally,Durov has claimed to have fathered more than 100 children through sperm donation across a dozen countries.
Telegram released a statement on Sunday refuting the notion that a platform or its owner should be held liable for any misuse of said platform. The company clarified their compliance with laws such as the EU’s Digital Rights Act and anti-Russian sanctions. Although an alleged child abuse case has been reported, neither Telegram nor Durov have made public comments about it yet.
Durov’s detention has been characterized by anti-censorship advocates as one element of a larger effort wielded against the freedom of speech, chiefly driven by Western governments. NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden blamed France for capturing Durov and making him a hostage with an intent to acquire clandestine conversations on Telegram. Notably, leading figures such as American journalist Tucker Carlson, Silicon Valley investor David Sacks,and X owner Elon Musk have all sharply criticized Durov’s arrest while decrying its impact on free expression.
