Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov has not been released and has been transferred from police custody to the court. The case’s outcome is yet to be determined.
Market fluctuations suggest that the price of TON, a cryptocurrency associated with Telegram, increased by more than 10%, possibly due to false news circulating in the market stating that “Pavel Durov was released.” The price reached a high of approximately US$6 before quickly falling to around US$5.6.
French officials have confirmed that Durov is facing potential charges related to alleged illegal activities on the Telegram platform, including child pornography dissemination and drug trafficking. He will remain in custody pending a court trial.
Reports indicate that Durov had a complex relationship with the French government. In 2018, he had lunch with French President Macron, during which he was invited to move Telegram’s headquarters to Paris and apply for French citizenship. A year earlier, Durov’s phone was allegedly hacked by a joint group of French and UAE spies.
