 |
|
The arrest of Pavel Durov, the founder of the messaging app Telegram, in France on August 24th has sent shockwaves through the tech world. Durov, a Russian-born entrepreneur known for his privacy-focused messaging platform, is facing serious accusations of involvement in crimes related to child pornography, drug trafficking, and fraudulent transactions on Telegram. French prosecutors, in a statement released by Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau, revealed that the investigation into Durov, which began on July 8th, stems from the French office's cybercrime unit and focuses on an unnamed individual suspected of complicity in a range of illicit activities.
The allegations against Durov are multifaceted and encompass a wide spectrum of criminal activities. He is accused of operating an online platform that facilitates illicit transactions, including child pornography, drug trafficking, and fraud. The accusations further include his alleged refusal to cooperate with authorities by providing crucial information, money laundering activities, and providing cryptographic services to criminals. The gravity of these charges underscores the seriousness of the situation and the potential consequences Durov could face if found guilty.
While the investigation is still ongoing and no official charges have been filed against Durov, a central point of interest has emerged: the role of his girlfriend, Juli Vavilova. Conspiracy theories circulating online claim that Vavilova, a 24-year-old Dubai-based crypto coach and streamer, may have tipped off French authorities to Durov's whereabouts through her Instagram posts. While there is no concrete evidence to support these claims, the timing of her posts and the fact that she and Durov had previously traveled together to locations such as Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Azerbaijan have fueled speculation.
Vavilova's Instagram account, boasting over 22,000 followers, showcases her interests in gaming, cryptocurrency, and languages. However, following Durov's arrest, her account appears to have been scrubbed of any pictures featuring him. It is unclear whether she deleted these images or if they were removed for other reasons. Despite the lack of concrete evidence, the focus on Vavilova's potential involvement highlights the complexities of the case and the extent to which the personal lives of those involved are now entangled in the investigation.
Source: Instagram posts of Telegram CEO's girlfriend Juli Vavilova said to be ‘linked’ to his arrest