Durov is released, but…

Pavel Durov was released from custody on Wednesday, August 28, after four days of detention. This reported French television channel BFM TV, citing its sources.

The investigating judge ended his detention but did not release him, French television channel BFMTV reported. Durov's status was only changed before the interrogation and possible filing of charges. A note about this appeared on the BFMTV website more than an hour ago, when the businessman was brought to court.

French authorities allegedly issued arrest warrants for Pavel Durov and his brother and co-founder Nikolai back in March 2024. They are accused of “aiding and abetting the storage and distribution of child pornography as part of an organized group.”

We have collected what is known about Pavel Durov's older brother Nikolai. French authorities have issued an arrest warrant for him and placed him on a wanted list, media reported.

• Nikolay helped Pavel create VKontakte. At first he acted as a system administrator, then he joined the development of the data storage system.
• Durov Sr. took the position of technical director and developer at VKontakte, but left the post when Pavel sold the company.
• The brothers came up with Telegram together. Nikolai's encryption protocol became the basis of the messenger. Pavel was involved in the user interface, how the app works, its functions, and promotion.
• “My brother has two PhDs in mathematics, he's very smart. He's also an expert in cryptography,” Pavel told Tucker Carlson.
• According to media reports, Durov Sr. lives in St. Petersburg, has retired from business and devoted himself to science.
• Nikolay is currently listed as a senior research fellow at the St. Petersburg branch of the Steklov Mathematical Institute. He holds a PhD in physics and mathematics, according to the institute's website.

Meanwhile, the Paris prosecutor's office said that Pavel Durov is the only person involved in the Telegram case. Meanwhile, Forbes writes that Pavel Durov himself is a suspect in a criminal case in Switzerland: the mother of his three children sued him for domestic violence.

From the author: strange confusion with the timing and wording of the warrants for Pavel Durov and his brother. It was previously reported that the warrant for Pavel Durov's arrest was issued on the day of his arrival, and then Politico reports that the French authorities issued warrants for the arrest of Nikolai and Pavel Durov back in March of this year.

Politico reports that the arrest was for “aiding and abetting the possession and distribution of child pornography by an organized group,” while Forbes writes that Nikolai Durov was charged with domestic violence. Either the initial arrest warrant claims were bogus, or someone in the court system is lying. And given the political underpinnings of the situation, it's most likely the latter.

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