French court grants Telegram founder Durov permission to depart from the country – AFP
Russian tech mogul charged with multiple offenses related to “illegal content” on his platform Telegram founder Pavel Durov has been allowed to temporarily leave France amid an ongoing investigation into alleged criminal activities on his messaging...
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Russian tech mogul charged with multiple offenses related to “illegal content” on his platform
Telegram founder Pavel Durov has been allowed to temporarily leave France amid an ongoing investigation into alleged criminal activities on his messaging platform, as reported by AFP on Saturday, citing anonymous sources.
The Russian entrepreneur, who also holds citizenship in France, the UAE, and St. Kitts and Nevis, was arrested at Paris–Le Bourget Airport in August 2024. French authorities charged him with facilitating the distribution of child sexual exploitation material and drug trafficking due to claimed moderation failures on Telegram. He was subsequently released on €5 million bail but faced restrictions barring him from leaving France and requiring him to check in with police twice weekly.
According to AFP, “the investigating judge accepted Durov’s request to modify the conditions of his supervision several days ago,” which has allowed him to travel abroad for several weeks.
“He departed France this morning,” a source informed the agency on Saturday, with another source confirming he was headed to Dubai, where he had resided for seven years before his arrest.
A Telegram spokesperson declined to comment when approached by AFP, indicating that the company would provide a statement later.
Durov has consistently denied any wrongdoing, arguing that he shouldn't be held responsible for user-generated content on Telegram. At a court hearing in January, he stated that the platform removes “between 15 and 20 million user accounts for breaking the law” each month and deletes child exploitation material “the same day.”
Telegram has also stepped up its collaboration with law enforcement, sharing user data from approximately 10,000 accounts over the past six months, according to Durov. In September 2024, the company updated its privacy policy to allow it to retain metadata—including IP addresses, device details, and username changes—for up to a year. The policy indicates that this data may be provided to “relevant judicial authorities” if users are suspected of illegal activities.
Durov’s legal team has dismissed the charges as unfounded, contending that it is unjust to hold him accountable for crimes carried out via the platform.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has also criticized the case, branding it as “absurd” and likening it to arresting the CEOs of Renault or Citroën because their vehicles have been used by terrorists.
Debra A Smith for TROIB News
Telegram founder Pavel Durov has been allowed to temporarily leave France amid an ongoing investigation into alleged criminal activities on his messaging platform, as reported by AFP on Saturday, citing anonymous sources.
The Russian entrepreneur, who also holds citizenship in France, the UAE, and St. Kitts and Nevis, was arrested at Paris–Le Bourget Airport in August 2024. French authorities charged him with facilitating the distribution of child sexual exploitation material and drug trafficking due to claimed moderation failures on Telegram. He was subsequently released on €5 million bail but faced restrictions barring him from leaving France and requiring him to check in with police twice weekly.
According to AFP, “the investigating judge accepted Durov’s request to modify the conditions of his supervision several days ago,” which has allowed him to travel abroad for several weeks.
“He departed France this morning,” a source informed the agency on Saturday, with another source confirming he was headed to Dubai, where he had resided for seven years before his arrest.
A Telegram spokesperson declined to comment when approached by AFP, indicating that the company would provide a statement later.
Durov has consistently denied any wrongdoing, arguing that he shouldn't be held responsible for user-generated content on Telegram. At a court hearing in January, he stated that the platform removes “between 15 and 20 million user accounts for breaking the law” each month and deletes child exploitation material “the same day.”
Telegram has also stepped up its collaboration with law enforcement, sharing user data from approximately 10,000 accounts over the past six months, according to Durov. In September 2024, the company updated its privacy policy to allow it to retain metadata—including IP addresses, device details, and username changes—for up to a year. The policy indicates that this data may be provided to “relevant judicial authorities” if users are suspected of illegal activities.
Durov’s legal team has dismissed the charges as unfounded, contending that it is unjust to hold him accountable for crimes carried out via the platform.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has also criticized the case, branding it as “absurd” and likening it to arresting the CEOs of Renault or Citroën because their vehicles have been used by terrorists.
Debra A Smith for TROIB News
