Forbes: Pavel Durov Accused of Abusing Young Son by Former Partner, Under Investigation in Switzerland

Odaily Planet Daily News: Telegram founder Pavel Durov is under investigation in Switzerland following a criminal complaint filed by his former partner Irina Bolgar, accusing him of child abuse. Bolgar claims to have three children with Durov. A criminal lawsuit filed in Geneva in March 2023 alleges that Durov inflicted physical violence on one of their three children. Shortly after, Bolgar filed a civil lawsuit for child custody. Court documents reveal that both cases were filed after Bolgar accused Durov of stopping the monthly payment of 150 thousand euros (167.50 thousand dollars) for child support for several months. The Geneva Public Prosecutor's Office initially refused to prosecute Durov upon receiving the criminal complaint, citing that it was filed over three months after the alleged physical violence incident. In May 2023, Bolgar appealed, and the court allowed the case to proceed in October last year. According to Geneva court officials, the case is still ongoing, with Bolgar accusing Durov of harming their youngest son (born in September 2017) five times between 2021 and 2022. These incidents allegedly caused injuries to the child, including concussion and sleep disorders, with evidence submitted from message records in November 2021 and medical certificates in April 2023. Durov's representatives declined to comment. Bolgar's lawyer confirmed the civil case involving Bolgar and her three children but refrained from commenting on the criminal lawsuit. Under Swiss law, Durov, Bolgar, and their children are not publicly named in the criminal case, but there are several details confirming Durov's identity, including the birth years of his children, the case number of the child custody civil case, Durov's residence in the UAE, and his net worth. According to Bolgar's lawyer, Durov did not contest the child custody case, which ruled in Bolgar's favor in May 2023 and was reaffirmed in February 2024. It is currently unclear whether he has hired a lawyer for the criminal lawsuit. Bolgar's lawyer confirmed that she also filed a civil lawsuit against Durov for child support in June 2024, which is still ongoing. (Forbes)