The CEO of Telegram is under investigation in Switzerland following allegations of child abuse by a former partner

According to Forbes, Telegram CEO Pavel Durov is under investigation in Switzerland due to a criminal complaint filed by his former partner Irina Bolgar, alleging child abuse. These allegations surfaced after Durov was recently arrested in France and are part of a broader legal dispute that includes claims of unpaid child support and a fierce custody battle. The Geneva Public Prosecutor's Office initially refused to accept the criminal complaint against Durov because it was submitted more than three months after the most recent alleged physical violence incident. In May 2023, Bolgar appealed and the court allowed the case to proceed in October last year. According to officials from the Geneva Court, the case is still ongoing with Bolgar accusing Durov of harming their youngest son (born September 2017) five times between 2021 and 2022. These incidents allegedly caused injuries including concussion and sleep disorders for the child; messages from November 2021 between Bolgar and Durov as well as medical certificates from April 2023 were submitted as evidence showing that the child continues suffering anxiety and sleep problems due to violent behavior. Representatives for Durov declined comment while lawyers for Bolgar confirmed her involvement along with her three children in civil cases but declined comment on criminal complaints. Due to Swiss law, neither Durov nor Bolgar or their children have been publicly named in this criminal case but there are multiple details confirming his identity within it such as birth years of his children and case numbers related to civil matters involving them.