Originally published on: December 07, 2024
Pavel Durov, the mastermind behind the popular messaging app Telegram, recently made an appearance in a Paris court for the first time. Reports suggest that he was questioned about allegations claiming that the app has been misused for criminal activities.
On December 6, Durov, accompanied by his legal team, David-Olivier Kaminski and Christophe Ingrain, stood before the court in Paris. The focus of the questioning revolved around accusations related to Telegram’s potential involvement in illicit transactions.
While Durov expressed his trust in the French justice system, he refrained from delving into the specifics of the case when approached by the media.
The legal woes for the Telegram founder began when he was detained at an airport in Paris back in August. Despite being released on a hefty bail, he is currently under travel restrictions until March 2025. French prosecutors have leveled serious charges against him, suggesting that Durov’s platform facilitates unlawful activities.
This legal turmoil surrounding Durov has sent shockwaves across the tech industry, especially among advocates of privacy-focused Web3 technologies.
Furthermore, the Paris prosecutor’s office has officially pressed preliminary charges against Durov for allegedly enabling illegal transactions through Telegram. If found guilty, the founder could potentially face a lengthy prison sentence and a substantial fine.
The ongoing saga involving Durov and Telegram has raised concerns within the cryptocurrency community, with some experts drawing parallels to recent cases, such as that of Tornado Cash developer Alexey Pertsev. Privacy-focused technologies and their creators appear to be increasingly under scrutiny and facing legal challenges.
As the ordeal unfolds, Durov’s supporters and critics alike are closely watching the proceedings, eagerly awaiting the final outcome of this high-profile legal battle.