French police reveal charges against Durov
Photo: Pavel Durov, Telegram founder (facebook.com/durov)
French law enforcement officials accuse Telegram founder Pavel Durov of refusing to cooperate in the investigation of several crimes, according to Reuters.
The officer noted that Durov was "passive" regarding cybercrime and financial crimes on Telegram.
Additionally, according to the police representative, Durov's case is being investigated by the national cyber crime unit and the national fraud office. He remains in custody.
According to the French prosecution, Durov is facing charges under 12 counts:
- Complicity in administering an online platform facilitating illegal transactions.
- Refusal to provide information in response to authorized requests.
- Complicity in storing images of child pornography.
- Complicity in distributing images of child pornography by an organized group.
- Complicity in drug trafficking.
- Complicity in distributing hacking software.
- Complicity in fraud committed by an organized group.
- Formation of an organized group for committing crimes punishable by imprisonment for five years or more.
- Concealment of crimes committed by an organized group.
- Provision of cryptographic services aimed at ensuring confidentiality without mandatory declaration.
- Illegal provision of cryptographic tools beyond what is necessary for ensuring confidentiality.
- Illegal import of cryptographic tools beyond what is necessary for ensuring confidentiality
Durov's arrest
On August 24, French authorities detained Telegram founder Pavel Durov at an airport near Paris.
It was later revealed that the arrest warrant was issued as part of a preliminary investigation, the details of which have not been disclosed by officials.
Durov could face charges due to the lack of moderation on his messaging platform, and the Telegram administration has not cooperated with authorities in criminal investigations.
For more details on Durov's case, see the material by RBC-Ukraine.
