**Title: French Authorities Summon Telegram Co-Founder Pavel Durov for Further Questioning**
French investigators have summoned Pavel Durov, the co-founder of the messaging platform Telegram, for questioning as part of an ongoing criminal investigation that has now entered its second year without resolution. Durov was interrogated for approximately six hours at the Paris Judicial Tribunal on Wednesday, marking the fourth instance of questioning since the investigation began.
According to local media reports citing law enforcement sources, Durov's legal team confirmed the questioning, asserting that nearly two years after his indictment, there remains a lack of evidence to substantiate the charges against him. The legal representatives stated, “almost two years after the indictment of Pavel Durov, there is still no evidence to establish the validity of the charges.”
The investigation into Durov commenced in August 2024 when he was arrested at a Paris airport. He was subsequently indicted on multiple charges, which French prosecutors allege are linked to the platform's inadequate moderation of illegal content and a perceived failure to cooperate with the investigation. Initially, Durov was barred from leaving France, but those travel restrictions have since been lifted.
In a statement from Telegram, the platform noted that the only development since Durov's detention has been the French authorities beginning to draft requests to the company more formally. This suggests an ongoing effort by investigators to gather information related to the case.
Durov has consistently denied any wrongdoing, describing the charges as “absurd” and alleging that the French government is conducting an attack on free speech. He has been vocal in his criticism of France's approach to social media regulation, arguing that the government's actions are part of a broader crackdown on platforms like Telegram.
In May, Durov expressed support for Elon Musk's platform X, which is also under investigation for alleged data harvesting and other offenses. He claimed that the French government has engaged in practices it has accused Telegram of, suggesting that a significant political shift anticipated in 2027 could reveal the government's missteps. Durov argued that the French authorities are attempting to silence platforms that promote free speech in an effort to mitigate potential fallout from these revelations.
As the investigation continues, the implications for Durov and Telegram remain uncertain, with many observers watching closely to see how the situation unfolds and whether any concrete evidence will emerge to support the charges against him.