Silke Mayr Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of Telegram, has returned to Dubai after French authorities permitted him to leave the country despite an ongoing investigation into alleged criminal activities conducted via the messaging platform.
Arrest and Investigation in France
Durov, 40, was arrested at Le Bourget airport near Paris in August 2023. French authorities placed him under formal investigation, prohibiting him from leaving France, where he holds citizenship. The charges against him include failing to prevent the spread of child sexual abuse content and other illegal materials on Telegram, which boasts over 900 million users worldwide.
For several months, Durov was required to report to a police station twice a week and had posted €5 million in bail. However, his travel restrictions were temporarily eased from March 15 to April 7, allowing him to leave France for “several weeks.”
Response and Return to Dubai
Upon his return to Dubai, Durov took to Telegram to confirm his safe arrival. He described his stay in France as part of an ongoing investigation and expressed gratitude to French judges, his legal team, and Telegram’s staff for proving the platform’s dedication to content moderation and crime prevention.
Despite the legal scrutiny, Telegram has emphasized its efforts to remove harmful content. The platform reported blocking over 6.1 million groups and channels in 2025, including 160,000 linked to child exploitation and 57,000 related to terrorism.
Political Reactions and Support
The high-profile case has drawn reactions from various political figures. Durov, who holds Russian, French, and UAE citizenships, received vocal support from notable individuals. Elon Musk expressed his solidarity with Durov through the hashtag #FreePavel, while the Kremlin condemned the investigation as “political persecution.” French President Emmanuel Macron, however, defended granting Durov French citizenship in 2021, describing it as recognition for individuals who “shine on the world stage.”
During his questioning, Durov initially criticized French authorities for not adequately alerting Telegram about illegal activities. However, after being presented with evidence of various cases involving abuse, scams, and violent crime, he acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations.
Legal Challenges Continue
While Durov is now free to travel, his legal troubles in France are far from over. The ongoing investigation highlights the broader debate over social media platforms’ responsibility in moderating harmful content and the balance between privacy and public safety.