Charges From France to Switzerland, Telegram Founder Cannot Catch a Break

Pavel Durov, the CEO of Telegram, is currently the subject of a criminal investigation in Switzerland for alleged child abuse, following a complaint lodged by his former partner, Irina Bolgar.

This investigation is part of a larger legal conflict that encompasses claims of unpaid child support and a contentious custody battle.

According to a report published on 28 August by Forbes, Bolgar filed a criminal complaint against Durov in March 2023, accusing him of aggressive and physically violent behaviour towards one of their children.

This complaint followed Durov's recent arrest in France and was accompanied by a civil child custody suit filed by Bolgar.

The allegations include specific incidents where Durov is said to have harmed his youngest son, born in September 2017, on five occasions between 2021 and 2022.

These alleged incidents reportedly resulted in injuries such as a concussion and sleep disorders for the child.

The case includes evidence such as message transcripts between Bolgar and Durov from November 2021 and a medical report from April 2023, which detail the child's ongoing anxiety and sleep difficulties attributed to the alleged abuse.

The investigation was initiated in Geneva several months after Durov ceased paying Bolgar 150,000 euros ($167,500) per month in child support for their three children.

Bolgar, who is believed to be a lawyer, also filed for child support in June 2024.

Initially, the Geneva Public Prosecutor’s Office dismissed the criminal complaint due to it being filed more than three months after the last incident.

However, Bolgar successfully appealed this decision in May 2023, leading to the case being allowed to proceed in October.

In court filings, Bolgar alleges that Durov stopped all contact with their children in September 2022, coinciding with the cessation of child support payments.

Since then, Bolgar has reportedly relied on her monthly salary of 8,000 Swiss francs ($9,500) to support the children.

Bolgar's attorney confirmed to Forbes that she and her three children have participated in the proceedings.

He also mentioned the initiation of another civil suit in June 2024, focusing on the child support payments.

The civil suit resulted in a ruling in May 2023, awarding Bolgar sole custody of the children, a decision that Durov did not contest.

Pavel Durov Freed After $5.5M Bail But Stuck in France

Durov was arrested on 24 August at Le Bourget airport near Paris as part of a broader investigation into several alleged crimes.

These include conspiracy with illegal activities, refusal to communicate with authorities, money laundering, criminal association, and providing cryptology services without prior declaration.

Durov was released from custody on 28 August but is barred from leaving France.

French authorities have charged him and placed him under judicial supervision following his court appearance.

Investigative judges filed preliminary charges and ordered him to pay a bail of 5 million euros (approximately USD 5.5 million) and report to a police station twice a week, as stated in a report from the Paris prosecutor's office.

A video widely shared by the Russian state-owned news outlet RIA Novosti shows Durov walking free from a Paris courthouse on 28 August.

Prosecutors have indicated that Durov is, "at this stage, the only person implicated in this case."

They have not ruled out the possibility that other individuals may be under investigation but declined to comment on any other potential arrest warrants.

Any such warrants would only be disclosed if the individuals targeted are detained and informed of their rights.

Durov's Attorney Claims Charges Against Telegram Founder as Absurd

Durov has been charged with six offenses out of the twelve initially listed, as stated by the capital prosecutor's office.

These charges include refusal to cooperate with authorities, complicity in dissemination of child pornography, complicity in drug trafficking, and involvement in a fraud committed within an organised group.

Durov's attorney has vehemently criticised these charges as absurd.

His attorney David-Olivier Kaminski said:

"It is totally absurd to think that the head of a social network could be involved in criminal acts that could be committed on the messaging service."

He also stressed:

"Telegram complies in all respects with European rules concerning digital technology."

According to the Paris prosecutor's office, Durov could face a prison term of up to ten years and a fine of 500,000 euros if found guilty.