Pavel Durov Telegram Legal Charges, the founder of Telegram, allegedly made his first formal court appearance on December 6 in Paris to face accusations that the messaging platform enabled criminal acts. Agence France-Presse (AFP) learned from an unidentified source that Durov’s lawyers, Christophe Ingrain and David-Olivier Kaminski, accompanied him to the 10 a.m. CET hearing. The inquiry primarily focused on allegations of unlawful transactions conducted over Telegram. Following a brief detention at Paris’s Le Bourget Airport on August 24, Durov began facing legal issues.
Pavel Durov was charged in France
The French government banned him from leaving the country until March 2025, but they released him after he paid a bail of $6 million. Prosecutors in France formally charged him with preliminary offences on August 28, alleging that Telegram enabled illicit operations. Durov faces a maximum penalty of €500,000 ($550,000) and ten years in jail if found guilty.
According to the Paris prosecutor’s office (Parquet de Paris), the inquiry into Telegram commenced in February 2024. In July, many weeks before Durov’s detention, it became an official judicial investigation. Another piece of information has emerged: according to people who spoke with The Wall Street Journal, Durov had his phone breached in 2017 before he met with French President Emmanuel Macron.
The case has caused some worry in the world of technology and cryptocurrency. From $400 million at the end of 2023 to $1.3 billion in the first half of 2024, Telegram’s cryptocurrency holdings increased dramatically, solidifying its position as a prominent participant in the cryptocurrency market. According to reports, the company’s financial situation has improved significantly due to its increased cryptocurrency holdings, income from Toncoin sales, and the termination of its exclusivity agreement with Toncoin.
Telegram’s 2024 Crypto Gains and Global Expansion
According to the disclosures, during the first half of 2024, the platform’s cryptocurrency assets tripled in value, hitting $1.3 billion. Telegram’s sale of $353 million in digital assets in the first half of 2024 is primarily responsible for this growth. The corporation further monetized Toncoin through a $225 million exclusivity arrangement, making it the only way for small businesses to buy ads on the platform. In October, Telegram announced its plans to establish a local office in Kazakhstan.
The Ministry of Digital Development, Innovations, and Aerospace Industry decided to regulate platform material better and communicate with local authorities. The minister of communications, Zhaslan Madiyev, has stated that the launch of Telegram in Kazakhstan would be a “significant step to increase control” over user-generated information.
Since Durov’s imprisonment, Telegram has taken multiple steps to address these concerns; one is exchanging user information with authorities as needed, including IP addresses and phone numbers. The platform’s search engine has also undergone significant upgrades, with problematic information removed and illegal material detected and blocked by artificial intelligence.
Summary
Pavel Durov appeared in court in Paris on December 6, 2024, facing accusations of facilitating illegal operations through Telegram. If found guilty, he could spend up to ten years behind bars; he was released on a $6 million bond and cannot leave France until March 2025.
At the same time, a Toncoin exclusivity arrangement and digital asset sales propelled Telegram’s cryptocurrency assets to $1.3 billion in early 2024. As part of its efforts to improve moderation with AI and increase regulatory compliance, the platform recently announced intentions to build an office in Kazakhstan.
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