Arrest Warrant Issued for Durov and His Brother as Early as March: Politico

French authorities issued an arrest warrant not only for Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, but also for his brother Nikolai, who was also involved in the creation of the popular messaging platform. This is reported by Politico, citing an official document obtained by its editors.

The document indicates that the investigation into Telegram began earlier than previously reported. This is primarily related to the company's cooperation with authorities in an investigation concerning crimes related to child pornography. Specifically, the document notes an incident where Telegram refused to disclose the personal data of a user who had shared pornographic videos featuring children.

Previously, it was reported that Pavel Durov was arrested in July in connection with a case involving 12 charges filed against an unidentified person; however, there was no information regarding Nikolai Durov's involvement in the case.

The initial detention period for Durov, who was taken into custody at a Paris airport on the evening of August 24, ends tonight. He must either be released or formally charged.

The representatives of the Durov brothers have yet to comment on Politico's publication.