Irina Bolgar accuses Pavel Durov of abuse: “he beat our son and threatened to kill him“
"The mother of three children with Pavel Durov has poked holes in the Russian tech titan’s carefully managed image through a criminal complaint and her account of their opulent lifestyle," this is how a major article in the newspaper begins.
The article is based on an interview with Irina Bolgar and statements from Pavel Durov’s representative, which were sent to the NYT in response to the publication's inquiry.
Irina Bolgar stated that during most of their nearly 10-year romantic relationship, she and Pavel Durov enjoyed a luxurious lifestyle. Their extravagance increased as Durov’s Telegram app gained popularity, securing his status as a billionaire and one of the most influential tech leaders in the world.
In the summer, they would spend about $1 million for a month at a resort in Sardinia. In Dubai, they lived in a penthouse by the sea with its own elevator. Private jets flew them to Paris, Italy, and Monaco. Bolgar provided receipts to the journalists. However, she claims that over time, Durov became an arrogant person who resorted to insults and physical abuse. A criminal investigation is currently underway in Switzerland based on Bolgar’s complaint, alleging five instances of Durov’s mistreatment of their son in 2021-2022.
"On one occasion, Durov struck the child in the back, sending him across the room. In another, he shook him so hard the boy’s shoes came off. Later, he grabbed the child by the leg and said he would kill him," Irina Bolgar told the publication.
The lawsuit was filed in Geneva in March 2023, a few months after, according to Bolgar, Durov stopped paying her 150,000 euros a month in alimony.
A representative from the Geneva prosecutor's office confirmed that an investigation is ongoing but declined to comment further, the publication reports.
In response to the inquiry, a representative of Durov stated that such incidents "never occurred" and that the accusations are "baseless."
He also claimed that the relationship with Bolgar was business-related, not romantic.
"Ms. Bolgar, who was Mr. Durov’s yoga coach at the time, suggested to Mr. Durov that they have children together. He agreed, and three children were born," the businessman's spokesman reported to the journalists (his name is not mentioned in the article).
In an interview, 44-year-old Irina Bolgar shared that she met 39-year-old Pavel Durov through his interest in yoga in St. Petersburg. According to her, their romantic relationship began during a winter holiday at the Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai. Bolgar noted that she was impressed by Durov’s libertarian views.
Shortly before The New York Times article was published, Bolgar posted photos and videos on Instagram showing Durov with her and their children.
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She also showed journalists images of them smiling, celebrating birthdays, and spending time together in various countries. Bolgar provided a notarized document confirming that she could spend up to 150,000 euros a month from his accounts. She claims Durov deceived her, while Russian media reported that he has children with another woman. The newspaper also quoted Durov’s representative, who stated that they "were never a couple."
"Mr. Durov has many children, and he supports each of them equally at a rate of $10,000 per month per child," he stated to NYT.
A source speaking to journalists accused Irina Bolgar of misusing money intended for the children, claiming that she spent millions on luxury items. Bolgar denies these allegations. Pavel Durov's spokesperson stated that the entrepreneur leads an exclusively ascetic lifestyle.
"Mr. Durov has been consistently critical of the extravagant lifestyles of the ultrawealthy and advocates for creating rather than consuming," the spokesperson said.
It's worth noting that the relationship between Bolgar and Durov officially ended in 2022, and legal proceedings are ongoing in Switzerland, where she resides. Read more in the article.
Recall: On August 24, it was reported that Pavel Durov was detained by French authorities at Paris airport. Later, French authorities disclosed the charges against him.