Telegram Founder Pavel Durov Slams French Case as ‘Absurd’
On Sunday, August 24, Pavel Durov, the billionaire founder of Telegram, voiced his criticism of French officials, labeling the ongoing criminal investigation against him as baseless, which has now spanned over a year of legal complexities.
Durov, who was granted temporary permission to travel to Dubai in March, is confronting multiple charges related to claims that Telegram has enabled organized crime. In a statement released on Sunday, he asserted that holding a CEO responsible for the actions of users on a global messaging platform sets a dangerous precedent.
“Arresting a CEO of a major platform for user activity is not only without precedent — it is both legally and logically ridiculous,” Durov stated.
Durov highlighted that French law enforcement made an “error” by failing to follow the correct legal protocols before August 2024 when seeking user data. He pointed out that the company has consistently complied with all legally binding requests and follows moderation practices in line with industry standards.
He mentioned that he is required to return to France every 14 days, with an appeal hearing yet to be announced.
“Unfortunately, the only outcome of my detention thus far has been the significant damage to France’s image as a free nation,” he remarked.
The allegations against Durov emphasize the growing tension between law enforcement and technology companies concerning accountability for online content, particularly as governments worldwide intensify their scrutiny of social media and messaging platforms.
This is not the first time Durov has criticized the French government.
In September, he addressed his legal challenges in France by condemning officials for bypassing official EU procedures and questioning him directly. He described the notion of holding a CEO accountable for user actions as a “misguided strategy,” especially under outdated laws.
Durov defended Telegram’s moderation approaches, emphasizing its regular removal of harmful content and partnerships with NGOs, while reiterating his commitment to the platform’s nearly one billion users.
As the legal proceedings continue, uncertainties linger regarding the impact on Telegram’s operations and its cryptocurrency initiatives.
How TON Fuels Telegram’s Blockchain Vision
Toncoin (TON), the cryptocurrency linked to Telegram’s Telegram Open Network (TON), has seen a decline of 6.4% over the past week. See the chart below.
Currently priced at $3.30, the TON token has fallen 60% from its high of $8.25. Nevertheless, it remains a crucial part of Telegram’s blockchain efforts.
Initially created by Telegram and now backed by the TON Foundation, the token seeks to embody, as Durov described it, “the principles of decentralization pioneered by Bitcoin and Ethereum, but… significantly improved in terms of speed and scalability.”
At its core, TON enables peer-to-peer payments. Users can quickly transfer funds at minimal costs, aligning with the platform’s aim to integrate TON directly into its messaging application. In chats, users can already send the token to friends, tip creators, or pay for services, highlighting Telegram’s potential as a key facilitator for crypto adoption.
Besides payments, it secures the proof-of-stake network through validator staking and supports DeFi applications, NFT marketplaces, and gaming, while also powering services such as TON DNS and decentralized storage.
As of July 2025, Telegram has approximately 1 billion monthly active users.