Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of messaging platform Telegram, has temporarily left France and returned to Dubai while facing an ongoing criminal investigation by French authorities.
Durov was arrested in August at Le Bourget airport near Paris and faced preliminary charges related to alleged failures to prevent criminal activities on Telegram, including drug trafficking, child sexual abuse content, and fraud. After his release, he was required to check in at a police station twice weekly and pay €5 million in bail.
French investigative judges have now permitted Durov to leave the country from March 15 to April 7, when he must return to continue cooperating with the investigation. The Russian-born entrepreneur, who holds citizenship in Russia, France and the UAE, could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
"I've returned to Dubai after spending several months in France due to an investigation related to the activity of criminals on Telegram," Durov stated. "The process is ongoing, but it feels great to be home."
Since Durov's arrest, Telegram has implemented several changes to address content moderation concerns. The company joined a program to identify and remove child sexual abuse material and began publishing transparency reports about content removal. Telegram also committed to providing law enforcement with IP addresses and phone numbers of users who violate its terms of service when presented with valid legal requests.
Durov maintains his innocence and argues he cannot be held personally responsible for illegal activities conducted on the platform. "When it comes to moderation, cooperation, and fighting crime, for years Telegram not only met but exceeded its legal obligations," he stated.
The messaging app has faced particular scrutiny in Western countries over its content moderation practices, even as it serves as a critical communication tool in places like Ukraine, where government officials and media rely on it for sharing important information including missile alerts.