Telegram CEO’s Lawyer Calls Legal Process ‘Absurd’

A French judge has officially placed Pavel Durov, the CEO of Telegram, under investigation due to suspicions related to the operation of a platform allegedly involved in illegal transactions, including child sexual abuse material and drug trafficking. Reports indicate that Durov is also being examined for possible money laundering and for not cooperating with judicial authorities. After his arrest at a Paris airport, he spent four days in police custody before being released on bail. The conditions of his bail include a €5 million bond, regular check-ins with the police, and restrictions on leaving France.

Durov’s attorney, David-Olivier Kaminski, has criticized the investigation, labeling it “totally absurd” to imply that the leader of a social media network could be held responsible for criminal activities taking place on the platform. Kaminski claims that Telegram fully adheres to European digital regulations.

Andrei Grachev, Managing Partner at DWF Labs, noted that Telegram serves not just as a messaging app but is part of a broader ecosystem powered by the TON blockchain, which supports various applications and protocols integrated into the platform.

While a formal investigation does not imply guilt or guarantee a trial, it suggests that judges believe there is enough evidence to continue the inquiry. Such investigations often take years to conclude, whether resulting in a trial or being dismissed.

Grachev emphasized that as a decentralized network, TON is resilient and its value proposition remains intact. French President Emmanuel Macron, a Telegram user, has expressed that the investigation is a judicial matter and not politically motivated. Macron previously met with Durov and granted him French citizenship in 2021 through a rare process designed for high-profile individuals.

In light of these events, Grachev expressed confidence in the technology and community surrounding TON, highlighting its potential to support new use cases while addressing distribution challenges through integration into web applications.

In the wake of Durov’s arrest, the price of Toncoin, the cryptocurrency associated with Telegram’s ecosystem, has fallen by approximately 20%.