Pavel Durov’s life has taken a drastic turn as he got arrested in France after his private jet touched down at Le Bourget Airport. French authorities had their eyes on him for quite some time and they appear to have finally seized the opportunity to apprehend him. He had a warrant related to concerns that Telegram wasn’t doing enough to moderate criminal activities on the platform.
Following his arrest, the internet seems curious to learn everything about Pavel Durov, including all the women he’s been with in his life. And interestingly enough, his dating life might just be one of the major reasons he got caught.
Was Pavel Durov’s Arrest in France Triggered by His Rumored Girlfriend Yulia Vavilova’s Instagram Posts?
Pavel Durov, the co-founder of Telegram, was arrested and detained in France, but it wasn’t just him that was caught. A mysterious woman named Yulia Vavilova, rumored to be his girlfriend, was alongside him. Yulia is a 24-year-old crypto coach and streamer, and she was frequently seen with Durov recently. The two had been traveling everywhere from Kazakhstan to Azerbaijan, so naturally, people have assumed they must be more than friends.
Now, here’s where things get interesting. Some section of the internet is convinced that Yulia could be the reason Pavel got busted. She was providing regular updates on Instagram, clueing everyone on her whereabouts by uploading pictures from her locations. This includes the snaps she shared from their travels to Paris right before they were caught by the authorities. There’s a genuine argument that she might have given away her precise location, leading the French authorities straight to Pavel.
But the speculations don’t end there. People in the crypto world are suggesting Yulia is far from innocent. There are credible theories claiming she could be involved in a much bigger conspiracy. Some accuse her of setting Pavel up, while others think she is tangled up in some shady business herself. Many also reckon Pavel Durov’s alleged girlfriend, Yulia Vavilova, might be a spy or a honeytrap.
Right now, the future of the Telegram CEO is up in the air. He is facing some serious charges, with the possibility of seeing prison for up to 20 years if things don’t go well for him. It remains to be seen what the next twist in this story will be.
No Wife, No Problem: Pavel Durov Opens Up About Fathering Over 100 Children Through Sperm Donation
Prior to his arrest, Pavel Durov, who is currently not married, made a shocking confession recently when he claimed he has over 100 biological children. Interestingly, the 39-year-old has also admitted he prefers living alone, so he’s unlikely to embrace a wife anytime soon, although he did tie the knot previously (more on it later). Clearly, this has not stopped the entrepreneur’s desire to produce offspring. This revelation came from a post on his official Telegram account, which has since made rounds all over social media.
This all began about 15 years ago when a friend suggested he donate sperm to a fertility clinic. The head of the clinic apparently told him high-quality donor sperm was in short supply, and encouraged him to make bigger contributions, calling it his “civic duty.” Pavel was instantly sold by the pitch, so he signed up and started donating anonymously. Over the years, his donations helped more than 100 couples across 12 countries conceive. Even after he stopped, one IVF clinic still has some of his frozen sperm available for use.
Durov said he wants to create a platform for his biological kids to connect more easily, so he’s willing to “open source” his DNA. As for his decision to become a sperm donor, Pavel expressed no regrets and instead claimed to be proud to have offered some level of contribution to solve the growing global issue of sperm shortages. He is also hoping to make a difference by motivating more healthy men to participate in sperm donation, providing struggling families with better opportunities to have children.
Daria Bondarenko and Irina Bolgar: The Women Behind Telegram Founder Pavel Durov’s Private World
Pavel Durov is not officially married right now but he has had relationships with several women. He reportedly dated Russian model Alena Shishkova, who worked for Maxim magazine and participated in various fashion campaigns. Likewise, he was also rumored to be in a relationship with another model named Viki Odintcova, who appeared on the cover of Playboy magazine.
The billionaire does not have a wife as of 2024, but a woman named Irina Bolgar from St. Petersburg previously claimed to have three kids (a daughter and two sons) with him, born in 2013, 2016, and 2017. Describing herself as a lawyer and a yoga practitioner for over 20 years, the Russian woman, based in Switzerland, met Pavel in St. Petersburg and claimed they had a civil marriage, though not officially registered. Bolgar didn’t confirm or deny whether she is still in a relationship with Durov.
The 39-year-old also has two children (a son and a daughter) with his ex-wife, Daria Bondarenko, who he met at university. She is now based in Barcelona. The identities of these kids remain private.
Born on October 10, 1984, in Leningrad Russian SFSR, Soviet Union, Pavel Durov is half-Russian and half-Ukrainian from his father and mother, respectively. His dad, Valery Durov, is a Doctor of Philological Sciences and an academic. Speaking of his family, the entrepreneur has a brother, Nikolai Durov, who co-founded Telegram and serves as its lead developer.
Pavel graduated from Saint Petersburg State University in 2006. The Telegram owner first gained prominence after he co-founded the social networking site VK (VKontakte), dubbed the “Russian Facebook,” based in Saint Petersburg. He currently lives in Dubai (where Telegram is based), holding dual citizenship in France and the United Arab Emirates. As of 2024, Pavel Durov’s net worth is estimated to be over $15.5 billion.
