Telegram founder Pavel Durov has returned to Dubai after French authorities allowed him to leave the country amid an investigation into alleged criminal activity on his messaging app. The 40-year-old billionaire was arrested in August last year and held under formal investigation, but a judge modified the conditions of his bail and authorized him to leave France for several weeks.
Durov initially criticized his arrest, citing French authorities’ failure to alert Telegram about alleged criminal activity, but later acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations against him. He is currently being investigated over counts of failing to curb child sexual abuse images and other extreme material on the platform.
The investigation has led to significant changes at Telegram, with the app blocking over 6.1 million groups and channels related to child abuse material and 57,000 “terrorist-related communities” this year alone. Durov’s return to Dubai marks a new chapter in his ongoing battle against allegations of negligence on his platform.
The billionaire has received support from high-profile figures like Elon Musk and Russian President Vladimir Putin, who expressed surprise at his arrest last year. French President Emmanuel Macron has defended granting Durov French nationality, citing the importance of supporting individuals who “shine in the world”.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/mar/17/telegram-founder-returns-to-dubai-as-french-inquiry-continues