2025-03-16
Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram,
has left France and traveled to Dubai after receiving permission from a French
court.
On March 13, 2025, a French court
allowed Durov to leave the country.
Reports suggest he can stay temporarily in Dubai
for "several weeks." Dubai is known for being a business-friendly
city with no extradition agreements with many countries.
Durov's legal troubles began on August
24, 2024, when he was briefly arrested at Le Bourget airport in Paris. French
prosecutors accused him of allowing illegal activities on Telegram.
On August 28, they announced charges
against him, saying he could face up to 10 years in prison and a €500,000
($550,000) fine.
He was released after posting a $6
million bail but was required to remain in France until the investigation was
complete.
His departure has sparked discussions
about tech companies' responsibilities and legal issues. The French government
has not made an official statement, and Durov has not commented publicly.
Meanwhile, the cryptocurrency market reacted positively to the news. Toncoin (TON), the token linked to Telegram’s blockchain network, surged by nearly 20%.
Durov, 40, is a Russian citizen but
also holds French and UAE passports. His case is part of a trend involving
Russian tech figures facing legal challenges abroad.
This follows the recent release of
Alexander Vinnik, a Russian involved in a cryptocurrency exchange, who was sent
back to Russia after a US-Russia prisoner swap.
For now, Durov remains free to stay in
Dubai, though his legal issues in France are not fully resolved.
