Pavel Durov arrested. 12 Accusations for Telegram Founder
Narrows Options for Pavel Durov and Telegram’s Future
“An especially dangerous criminal has been caught.” Telegram is being taken very seriously if we follow the accusations made by Paris prosecutor Laura Beccuau.
Durov is accused of terrorism, drug trafficking, pedophilia, money laundering, fraud, cybercrimes, refusal to cooperate, crypto fraud, and more.
Here is a list of 12 accusations:
- Participation in the distribution of child pornography: Durov is accused of facilitating the spread of this content through Telegram.
- Drug trafficking: He is charged with participating in schemes involving the sale, storage, and transportation of drugs using Telegram.
- Organized fraud: Durov is accused of aiding financial frauds that were conducted through his platform.
- Money laundering within organized crime gangs: The accusation claims that he participated in schemes to legalize funds obtained through criminal means using Telegram, in collusion with criminal entities to commit offenses.
- Refusal to cooperate with authorities: He allegedly repeatedly refused to provide information in response to lawful data interception requests.
- Provision of cryptographic services without a license: Durov is accused of unlawfully providing cryptographic services without proper registration. Providing cryptological means that do not solely ensure authentication or integrity control without prior declaration.
- Development and distribution of tools for cybercrimes: The accusation includes facilitating the creation and distribution of programs used for hacking and other illegal activities. Importing cryptological means that do not solely perform authentication or integrity control functions without prior declaration.
- Facilitation of illegal financial transactions: Durov is accused of enabling illegal financial operations through Telegram.
- Creating conditions for criminal activity: The investigation believes that Telegram was used to organize and coordinate criminal activities.
Indirect accusations based on the nature of the primary charges:
- Failure to moderate content: Failure to take measures to moderate content that could threaten public safety.
- Facilitation of terrorism financing: Telegram was allegedly used to transfer funds to terrorist organizations.
- Violation of data protection laws: A significant portion of the accusations apparently falls under the DSA (Digital Services Act).
The Scale and Variety of Accusations Against Pavel Durov
What’s missing are accusations of cannibalism, genocide, creating an apocalypse cult, intergalactic espionage, creating an alternative reality, and controlling the weather.
Given the combination of these accusations, with a touch of finesse and simultaneous perversion of French justice, they could lead to “several life sentences.”
Basically, everything is clear. France has narrowed the room for maneuver to a minimum, channeling the investigation in a single direction: cooperation with the investigation and fundamental concessions in the concept and architecture of Telegram, or effectively cutting Durov off from Telegram for life.
Simply put, either Durov hands Telegram over to Western intelligence agencies, or Durov says goodbye to both Telegram and his freedom.
As we can see, France has already made its decision, in which Durov will lose Telegram in its current form as a “citadel of free speech” regardless of the outcome.
The scale and variety of the accusations, along with the nuances of Euro-bureaucrats, won’t allow an easy escape without serious concessions.
The Inescapability of Pavel Durov’s Situation
Judging by the nature of the accusations, it seems they were hastily put together in an accelerated manner, which could indicate the creation of an operational trap at the last moment, while the decision to “shut down Telegram” was made much earlier (at least in early July 2024), but the legal justification is shaky.
It seems that escaping without consequences from such accusations will not be possible. I’m not sure if there has ever been a person in the history of French justice who has been deemed as “dangerous and fierce” as Durov.
Who is Pavel Durov
Pavel Durov is a Russian-born entrepreneur and the founder of the social networking site VKontakte (VK) and the encrypted messaging service Telegram. Often referred to as the “Mark Zuckerberg of Russia,” Durov gained fame in the early 2000s for creating VK, which became one of the most popular social networking sites in Russia and the CIS countries.
In 2014, Durov left VK due to disagreements with Russian authorities over privacy and censorship issues. He then focused on developing Telegram, an encrypted messaging platform that emphasizes privacy and security. Telegram has grown significantly in popularity, with millions of users worldwide, and has been at the center of various controversies due to its use by activists, dissidents, and, at times, individuals engaged in illegal activities.
Durov is known for his strong stance on privacy, freedom of speech, and resistance to government censorship, which has often put him at odds with authorities in various countries. He has since become a global figure advocating for digital rights and is regarded as a pioneer in the tech industry, particularly in the field of secure communications.
Sources:
https://t.me/spydell_finance
