Telegram founder accused of child abuse by ex-partner under Swiss investigation

BlockBeats news, August 29, Forbes reported that Telegram founder Pavel Durov is under investigation in Switzerland due to a criminal complaint filed by his ex-partner Irina Bolgar, alleging child abuse. These allegations surfaced after Durov was recently arrested in France and are part of a wider legal dispute, including claims of unpaid child support and a fierce custody battle.

The Geneva Public Prosecutor's Office initially refused to accept the criminal complaint against Durov because it was filed more than three months after the most recent alleged physical violence incident. In May 2023, Bolgar appealed, and the court allowed the case to continue in October last year. According to Geneva court officials, the case is still ongoing, and Bolgar accused Durov of injuring their youngest son (born in September 2017) five times between 2021 and 2022. The incidents allegedly caused injuries to the child, including concussion and sleep disturbances, and records of messages between Bolgar and Durov from November 2021 and a medical certificate from April 2023 were submitted as evidence that the child continues to suffer anxiety and sleep problems as a result of the violence.

A representative for Durov declined to comment. Bolgar's attorney confirmed that Bolgar and his three children are involved in the civil case but declined to comment on the criminal complaint. Durov, Bolgar and their children have not been publicly named in the criminal case due to Swiss law, but there are multiple details in the case that identify Durov, including his children's years of birth and the case number for the civil children's case.