Bet on Telegram Being Banned in an EU Country

Telegram will not be banned in any of the EU nations by year's end, at least that's what the oddsmakers at BetUS believe.

Rot     Will Telegram Be Banned In One Of The European Union Countries Until October, 2024?     MoneyLine
10101     Yes         +600
10102     No         -1200

The "No", as you can plainly see, is a pretty hefty favorite.

Telegram betting markets began to be introduced almost immediately following the arrest of that app's boss and founder Pavel Durov late last month.

Durov, 39, has not been remanded in custody, but placed under judicial supervision, and has to pay a €5m (£4.2m; $5.6m) deposit.

The Russian-born billionaire (pictured below) must show up at a French police station twice a week and is not allowed to leave French territory. Durov is also a French national.

Durov was first detained upon arrival at Le Bourget airport north of Paris last Saturday under a warrant for offences related to the app.

Allegations against Durov, include that his platform is being used for child sexual abuse material and drug trafficking.

Both free-speech advocates and authoritarian governments have spoken in Durov’s defense since his weekend arrest. The case has also called attention to the challenges of policing illegal activity online, and to the Russia-born Durov’s own unusual biography and multiple passports.

Russia has said Durov is a "victim of his own independence".

"Pavel Durov was too free," ussian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday.. "He didn't listen to Western advice on moderating his brainchild." 

Telegram is widely used by Ukrainian soldiers in their war against Russia.