After Telegram CEO and founder Pavel Durov was arrested by French authorities over the weekend, more details have emerged that shed light on the reason for his apprehension.
On July 8, a judicial investigation was opened against “an unnamed person” on charges related to complicity in various crimes committed with Durov’s messaging app, including money laundering and the dissemination of child pornography.
According to a Paris court press release shared by Disclose.TV, the unidentified individual is complicit in the possession and distribution of “pornographic images of minors.” He also accused the person of complicity in the sale of narcotic substances, making available hacking tools, organized fraud, money laundering and for providing cryptology tools without prior declaration. “It is within this procedural framework that Pavel Durov was interrogated by investigators,” a court press release stated on Monday, following Durov’s arrest on Saturday. Durov’s arrest has sparked a strong backlash from the crypto community, which sees his apprehension as an attack on freedom of expression. Durov has previously suggested that he holds a substantial portion of his net worth in Bitcoin (BTC). French President Emmanuel Macron hit back at critics on Monday, saying Durov’s arrest was “in no way a political decision” and “took place as part of an ongoing judicial investigation.” “France is deeply committed to freedom of expression and communication, to innovation and to the entrepreneurial spirit,” he said. Twitter. “It’s going to stay that way.” SPECIAL OFFER (Sponsored) Binance Free $600 (Exclusive to CryptoPotato): Use this link to register a new account and receive an exclusive welcome offer of $600 to Binance (full details).
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