Telegram’s CEO Pavel Durov Temporarily Leaves France Amid Criminal Probe

• An investigating judge allowed Telegram’s CEO to leave France for several weeks.
• Pavel Durov reportedly left for Dubai on Saturday while under a formal investigation.
• The investigation concerns Durov’s complicity in operating a platform that facilitates illegal activities.

French authorities have granted Pavel Durov, Telegram's Russian-born founder and CEO, permission to leave the country temporarily as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged criminal activities on the encrypted messaging platform. 

The news, reported by AFP and cited by Reuters, marks a significant development in a probe that has raised complex questions about law enforcement, online platforms, and free speech.

Durov was placed under formal investigation by French prosecutors last year following his arrest at an airport near Paris in August 2024. He was accused of complicity in operating a platform facilitating illegal activities such as drug trafficking and money laundering. 

While the formal investigation does not imply guilt, it indicates that judges have found sufficient evidence to proceed with the inquiry.

An investigating judge recently permitted Durov to leave France for several weeks. According to sources cited by AFP, Durov likely departed for Dubai on Saturday morning. 

French authorities have yet to comment on his temporary leave or update the investigation’s progress.

The probe has further strained relations between France and Russia, exacerbated by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. These tensions have amplified debates surrounding the balance between protecting free speech and enforcing cybersecurity regulations on global platforms like Telegram.

Telegram is known for its encrypted communications and commitment to privacy, making it one of the most widely used messaging platforms worldwide. However, its encryption features have also been criticized for enabling illicit activities, posing significant challenges for law enforcement.

Law enforcement agencies globally are increasingly pressing for more oversight in contexts where encryption may hinder investigations into illicit activities. However, privacy advocates argue that weakening encryption risks jeopardizing user safety and setting dangerous precedents.