Pavel Durov, the founder of messaging service Telegram, has reportedly left France. In a recent post, he confirmed his return to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.
Durov had been detained in France in the summer and was expected to remain in the country while authorities investigated him in connection with alleged criminal activities on Telegram. Although the case is still ongoing, Durov expressed gratitude for being allowed to return to the UAE, crediting the judges, his lawyers and his team for their efforts in demonstrating Telegram’s compliance with legal obligations in terms of moderation, cooperation and combating crime.
The entrepreneur also acknowledged the support of millions of people worldwide during “this unexpected journey.”
Earlier, the AFP news agency reported that Durov was permitted to leave France with a court-approved release on the previous Saturday. Durov was arrested at Paris-Le Bourget airport on August 24, 2024 and was later released on bail of 5 million euros.
According to media reports, French authorities are investigating Durov in twelve cases, including allegations of aiding the administration of an online platform for illegal transactions, distributing child pornography, drug trafficking, fraud and money laundering. If convicted, Durov could face up to ten years in prison. Durov has consistently denied the allegations.