Guilty, or not? What’s happening around the Durov’s arrest

The investigation that led to the arrest of Telegram founder Pavel Durov is being conducted against “unspecified persons.” What else is going on in this case?

Durov has appeared in court, where a decision will be made on whether to prosecute him. It has been reported that the 12 charges previously attributed to him may not apply to him. According to Reuters, the prosecutor’s office did not say what crime Durov is suspected of. The statement also refers to an unnamed person.

“The general investigation is directed at individuals who are not specified at this stage.”

The agency recalled that on August 28, French judges must decide whether to release the Telegram founder or open an official investigation. At the same time, an official investigation does not mean guilt and does not necessarily lead to a trial. Moreover, it can take years before a case is brought to court.

“If Durov, who has been in police custody since his arrest, is placed under formal investigation, the judges will also decide whether to remand him in pre-trial detention. One factor they will consider is whether he might try to escape.”

After 96 hours, the court must either release the businessman or file charges against him. In the latter case, a Paris-based lawyer told The Financial Times, Durov could be placed under house arrest or given a written undertaking not to leave.

According to media reports, arrest warrants were issued in France in March for Pavel Durov and his brother Nikolai on charges including conspiracy to possess and distribute child pornography. Politico reports that Nikolai is currently wanted in France.

Support from Digital Resistance

Meanwhile, a bot appeared on Telegram to collect signatures for the release of Durov. The authors of the bot stated that the arrest of the messenger’s founder was unacceptable.

“We strongly condemn the arrest of Mr. Pavel Durov by the French authorities as a clear attack on freedom of expression and the right to privacy.”

The report also includes many famous names such as Elon Musk and Vitalik Buterin.

Source: Digital Resistance bot France and UAE special operations to unlock Durov’s iPhone

Meanwhile, the French press is actively discussing the version that President Emmanuel Macron personally lured Durov to Paris. They were supposed to have dinner together on the day of his arrest.

The Wall Street Journal also reported that French secret services, together with their counterparts in the United Arab Emirates, hacked Durov’s iPhone in an operation codenamed Purple Music in 2017.

The operation was launched after French authorities expressed concern that Telegram was being actively used to sell drugs, commit cybercrime and recruit new supporters by ISIS militants.

However, Durov met with French President Emmanuel Macron at a private dinner in 2018 and received an offer from the president to move Telegram’s headquarters to Paris, but Macron rejected this offer.

Macron is revealed to be a Telegram lover

According to media reports, Macron, who actively uses Telegram, said that Durov’s arrest was in no way a political matter. The businessman was detained as part of an ongoing investigation and the court must decide the case.

“Macron was a Telegram user since the early days of his first presidential campaign. Nearly a decade later, the app remains widely used by both cabinet members and political officials of all ranks and parties, especially in pro-Macron circles.”

What will happen to TON after Durov’s arrest?

Toncoin (TON), which is used for transactions within Telegram, reacted by falling by around 20 percent following the news of Durov’s arrest.

Despite the arrest of Messenger’s founder, investors continue to show interest in TON-based tokens; for example, the DOGS token was listed on August 26.

Telegram is also developing an ecosystem of crypto games running on the TON blockchain, the most successful of which include Notcoin and Hamster Kombat, which previously released #FreeDurov cards.

Source: Hamster Kombat

Anonymous crypto analysts also believe that the TON decline is temporary.

As the Mini App gains popularity on Telegram, the TON ecosystem is likely to continue to grow, as it is clear that it brings great value to the crypto community. Durov’s arrest could set an important precedent for cryptocurrency advocates from around the world to unite in support of TON. However, there are no signs of a recovery yet — TON is trading at $5.45.