Telegram founder Pavel Durov has been granted temporary permission to leave France, where he faces multiple charges related to allegedly facilitating organised crime, reports France 24 citing AFP.
Durov, 40, was dramatically detained at Le Bourget airport near Paris in August 2024 and accused of numerous infractions linked to the messaging platform he founded. It marked the first instance of a social media company founder being arrested over content hosted on their platform. With more than 900 million active users, Telegram is one of the world's leading messaging apps.
Following days of questioning, Durov was charged with failing to curb extremist and terrorist content and released on a five-million-euro ($5.6 million) bail. He had been barred from leaving France but departed for Dubai on Saturday with official approval, sources confirmed.
"He left France this morning," a well-placed source told AFP, specifying that authorities had authorised his departure. Another source indicated that Durov, a highly influential tech entrepreneur, departed from Le Bourget airport for Dubai, where Telegram is headquartered. A third source stated that an investigating judge had permitted him to leave France for "several weeks."
Born in Russia, Durov holds Russian, French, and United Arab Emirates passports. A reclusive billionaire, he is known for his ascetic lifestyle. When contacted by AFP, a Telegram spokeswoman declined to comment, and Durov's legal team was not immediately available.
An investigating judge had agreed to alter Durov's supervision conditions several days before his departure, according to one source. A self-declared libertarian, Durov has long advocated for online privacy. In 2018, Moscow attempted to block Telegram, only to abandon the effort two years later.
Initially critical of his arrest, Durov has since made concessions that appear to align with French demands. Extracts from his December questioning, obtained by AFP, show that he initially blamed French authorities for failing to alert Telegram to alleged criminal activity. However, he later acknowledged, "It was while I was in custody that I grasped the seriousness of all the allegations."
Investigators have confronted Durov with over a dozen specific cases, including allegations involving child exploitation, drug trafficking, scams, arms sales, and contract killings.
President Emmanuel Macron has defended France’s decision to grant Durov citizenship, describing it as a strategic move aimed at attracting global talent. During questioning, Durov reportedly referenced his connections to the French president, according to a source close to the investigation.
Durov has received backing from fellow tech mogul Elon Musk, CEO of X, who voiced support under the hashtag #FreePavel. Meanwhile, the Kremlin has warned France against politicising the case.
Forbes estimates Durov’s wealth at $15.5 billion, though he publicly embraces a minimalist lifestyle, advocating practices such as ice baths and abstinence from alcohol and coffee.
His arrest thrust French authorities into the broader debate over online free speech. While some argue he should not be held accountable for how Telegram is used, others suggest his own actions may have invited scrutiny.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
