In a high-profile legal showdown, Pavel Durov’s defense team tears apart the French prosecutors’ case, revealing serious procedural errors and weak allegations linking Telegram to criminal conspiracies.
French prosecutors’ effort to indict Telegram co-founder Pavel Durov is under increasing scrutiny as his lawyer, Christophe Ingrain, exposes critical weaknesses in the case. The charges center on Durov’s alleged complicity in illicit activities carried out through the Telegram platform. However, Ingrain argues that “complicity does not extend to inaction,” emphasizing the absence of any evidence linking Durov directly to criminal conduct. He also points to major procedural missteps by investigators, who bypassed Telegram’s official EU Digital Services Act communication channel—invalidating their legal requests. Challenging claims of non-cooperation, Ingrain highlights Telegram’s active efforts to combat misuse, noting the platform blocked 21 million accounts globally in 2024, including 28,000 in France. Durov remains under judicial supervision in Paris after his August 2024 detention, facing charges that carry the risk of up to 10 years in prison and significant fines.
