This weekend, Telegram CEO and founder Pavel Durov was arrested by French authorities, and new information has come to light about the reasons behind his arrest.
On July 8, a judicial investigation began against an unnamed individual. The charges relate to various crimes committed using Durov’s messaging app, Telegram. These crimes include money laundering and the distribution of child pornography.
Court Press Release Reveals More
A press release from the Paris court, shared by Disclose.TV, revealed that this unnamed person is accused of possessing and sharing “pornographic images of minors.” The accusations also extend to complicity in drug trafficking, providing hacking tools, organized fraud, money laundering, and offering cryptography tools without proper declaration.
According to the court’s statement on Monday, Durov was questioned by investigators as part of this ongoing investigation.
Durov’s arrest has sparked outrage in the crypto community. Many see his detention as an attack on freedom of speech. Durov has previously mentioned that a significant portion of his wealth is held in Bitcoin (BTC).
French President Responds
French President Emmanuel Macron addressed the criticism on Monday. He stated that Durov’s arrest was “not a political decision” and was part of an ongoing judicial process. Macron also reaffirmed France’s commitment to freedom of expression, innovation, and entrepreneurship, emphasizing that these values remain strong.
