Telegram CEO Pavel Durov accused of abusing son and cutting off child support by mother of 3 kids

Irina Bolgar claims Durov struck their son, withheld financial support, and led a secret double life.

Telegram CEO Pavel Durov is facing serious allegations from Irina Bolgar, the mother of his three children, as their personal disputes have now entered the public domain. 

Bolgar has accused Durov of physical abuse, withholding financial support, and leading a secret double life. 

She filed a criminal complaint in Switzerland last year, claiming that Durov struck their then-three-year-old son so hard it sent him “across the room,” according to a report from 'Forbes'. 

Bolgar, a trained lawyer, has since launched a social media campaign to back her claims. In her Instagram posts, she shares photos of Durov with their children and captions them with scathing comments about their relationship. 

“The carefully crafted image of Durov as a defender of freedom collapses when faced with his personal life,” Bolgar told 'The New York Times', emphasizing the stark contrast between Durov’s public persona and his private actions.

The accusations extend beyond personal abuse. Bolgar claims Durov cut off child support payments after their split, leaving her and the children financially strained. 

Meanwhile, Durov’s spokesperson refuted Bolgar's portrayal of their relationship, stating that it was “merely transactional” and denying any romantic involvement. 

According to Durov, Bolgar was his yoga instructor and suggested they have children together.

In addition to physical and emotional abuse claims, Bolgar also alleges that Durov led a secret double life, something she discovered after holiday gifts were delivered to his second family. “When we decided to come back to Russia, I asked him, ‘So you said you would like not to come back to Russia, but now you have the opposite intention,’” Bolgar explained to 'The New York Times', shedding light on her suspicions.

Durov has yet to directly respond to the latest allegations. However, his attorney maintains that the billionaire has consistently advocated for responsibility in family matters, despite Bolgar’s accusations.