Pavel Durov Marks 1 Year Since Arrest, Slams ‘Legally Absurd’ French Case

- Telegram’s founder criticizes the legal probe and cites a lack of evidence. - Durov’s arrest highlights debates on platform liability and Web3’s role in tech accountability. On August 24, 2025, one year after his arrest, Telegram founder Pavel Durov criticized French authorities over his ongoing criminal investigation, describing the case as "legally and logically absurd." French authorities detained Durov on August 24, 2024, charging him on 12 counts related to illegal activities facilitated on Telegram, including money laundering and the spread of child sexual abuse material. Durov argues that prosecuting the CEO of a major platform for user activity sets a troubling precedent, and his 2024 arrest sparked wide support from the crypto community while fueling debates about platform accountability in the tech industry. Although authorities released Durov from detention, legal constraints remain. He must travel to France biweekly for check-ins, and no appeal date is in sight. In March 2025, authorities temporarily permitted him to leave France, allowing him to return to Telegram's headquarters in Dubai. Meanwhile, Telegram continues to focus on Web3, particularly The Open Network (TON) and its cryptocurrency, Toncoin. After Durov’s arrest, on-chain activity on the TON network initially spiked before it returned to normal levels. Toncoin remains a point of institutional interest, standing as the 21st largest cryptocurrency by market cap. One notable player, Verb Technology, holds over 8% of Toncoin’s circulating supply and announced plans to rebrand as Ton Strategy Company. As of 00:09 UTC on August 25, 2025, Toncoin (TON) traded at $3.305, while its 24-hour trading volume had dropped by 2.34%.