Pavel Durov, who founded the encrypted messaging platform Telegram, didn’t share his experience publicly because it was a sensitive time for his platform and he was seeking funding for a project
Maverick tech tycoon Pavel Durov believes he was “poisoned” in a Putin-styled nerve agent attack. The funder of encrypted messaging platform Telegram felt his body shut down and thought he was about to die back in spring 2018.
Russia and other countries were trying to ban Telegram at the time of the incident. The 40-year-old entrepreneur didn’t share his experience publicly because it was a sensitive time for his platform and he was seeking funding for a blockchain project.
Durov said he felt “acute pain” all over his body shortly after he noticed a “strange neighbour” leave something at the front door of his rented townhouse, the location of which he has not disclosed.
He collapsed on his way to the bathroom and woke up the next day in agony. Speaking on the Lex Friedman podcast, he said: “This is something I have never spoken about publicly because I didn’t want people to freak out.
“At the time there were a number of countries who banned Telegram. It wasn’t the best time to talk about my personal health. This was something that is hard to forget. I believe I have perfect health. I rarely have headaches or bad coughs.
“I don’t take pills because I don’t have to take pills. That was the only time in my life when I thought I was dying. I came back home and opened the door of my townhouse – the place I rented.”
He added: “I had this weird neighbour. He left something for me at the door. One hour after, when I was already in my bed. I felt very bad. I felt pain all over my body. I tried to get up and go to the bathroom but on the way I felt functions of my body starting to switch off.”
The tech tycoon revealed how his senses started to fail him with his sight going first followed by his hearing then he had difficulty breathing.
He added: “Everything was accompanied by very acute pain. Hard stomach and blood vessels. It is a difficult thing to explain but one thing I was certain about was, ‘this is it’.
“I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t see anything. It was very painful. It’s over. I thought, ‘well, I had a good life. I managed to accomplish a few things.’
He added: “Then I collapsed on the floor but I don’t remember it because the pain covered everything. I found myself on the floor the next day and it was already bright. I couldn’t stand up. I was super weak.
“Blood vessels were broken all over my body. Something like this never happened to me. I couldn’t walk for two weeks after. I stayed in my place. If anything, I felt more free after that.”
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