Telegram founder #PavelDurov faces 12 criminal charges in #France , including complicity in organized crime, child pornography & narcotic trafficking.
Telegram founder Pavel Durov is facing 12 serious criminal charges in France following his arrest at Le Bourget airport on the outskirts of Paris. The arrest took place on August 24, as part of an extensive judicial investigation led by the Paris Public Prosecutorâs Office, specifically its cybercrime division, JUNALCO.
The investigation began in early July 2024 and centers on multiple allegations against Durov, mainly connected to his role in overseeing the Telegram platform.
Telegram Founder Pavel Durov Faces 12 Criminal Charges
According to a filing, the judicial investigation against Telegram founder Pavel Durov includes 12 criminal charges. The inquiry was initiated on July 8, 2024, following a preliminary investigation by JUNALCO.
The charges involve complicity in enabling illegal activities through the Telegram platform, such as web-mastering the platform to facilitate organized crime transactions, refusing to provide crucial information to law enforcement, and complicity in possessing and distributing child pornography.
Additional charges include allegations of involvement in narcotic trafficking and offering cryptology services without the required certification.
The 12 charges also encompass laundering the proceeds of criminal activities, providing unauthorized cryptology tools, and importing cryptology tools without proper declaration with Telegram under his direction.