Former partner of Pavel Durov accuses Telegram founder of violence against their son — Novaya Gazeta Europe

Telegram founder Pavel Durov, who was charged by a French court on Wednesday with several counts of aiding and abetting criminal acts, is also being investigated in Switzerland for alleged violence against one of his children, Forbes reported on Wednesday.

A criminal complaint filed in Geneva in March 2023 by Durov's former partner Irina Bolgar alleges that Durov caused physical harm to her youngest son. According to Bolgar, Durov was violent towards her son five times between 2021 and 2022, resulting in injuries including a concussion. Since then, the boy, who turns 7 next month, has suffered persistent sleep problems.

Bolgar, who says she has three children with Durov, also filed a civil suit for custody of the two children. Both lawsuits were filed several months after Bolgar said the billionaire had stopped paying her 150,000 euros ($170,000) a month in child support, Forbes reported, citing court documents.

While Durov has not yet publicly announced the birth of his three children with Bolgar, in July he announced to the world that he has over 100 biological children through sperm donation.

A court in Geneva initially dismissed the criminal case against Durov because it was filed more than three months after the last incident of alleged physical violence. However, Bolgar appealed the decision in May 2023, and in October the court agreed to allow the case to proceed, according to Forbes.

The investigation includes evidence such as transcripts of messages exchanged between Bolgar and Durov in November 2021 and medical records from April 2023 confirming that their child suffered from anxiety and sleep disorders as a result of the alleged violence.

According to Forbes, a representative for Durov declined to comment, while a lawyer for Bolgar confirmed that Bolgar and her three children are involved in the civil case but declined to comment on the criminal case.

French authorities on Wednesday charged the 39-year-old Telegram CEO with six counts related to illegal activities on the app, according to a press release seen by Novaya Gazeta Europe.

Durov was released on bail of 5 million euros and placed under judicial supervision. The tech billionaire must also report to the police station twice a week and is not allowed to leave France.