Pavel Durov Breaks Silence on Telegram After Returning to Dubai Following French Criminal Investigation

• Pavel Durov has posted on Telegram following his return to Dubai after being held in France since being detained last year.
• French authorities have accused the Telegram co-founder of enabling illicit activities on the messaging app.
• Durov has received an outpouring of support since being detained.

Telegram co-founder Pavel Durov has broken his silence after returning to Dubai, following a travel ban that prevented him from leaving France after his detention last year.

The Russian-born entrepreneur told followers on his messaging app that it “feels great to be home,” despite ongoing investigations into his responsibility over the app’s safety.

Durov Back in Dubai

On Monday, March 17, Durov posted to his Telegram channel that he had returned to Dubai after spending several months in France.

“The process is ongoing, but it feels great to be home,” he wrote.

While initially critical of the investigation, Durov thanked the judges for letting him return home.

“I want to thank the investigative judges for letting this happen, as well as my lawyers and team for their relentless efforts in demonstrating that, when it comes to moderation, cooperation, and fighting crime, for years Telegram not only met but exceeded its legal obligations,” he added.

Durov’s Telegram Criminal Investigation Continues

Durov was arrested on Aug. 24, 2024, at Le Bourget Airport near Paris upon his arrival from Azerbaijan.

The arrest stemmed from a warrant issued by the French judicial police as part of a preliminary investigation into multiple suspected violations concerning criminal activities on Telegram.

French authorities accused Durov of enabling the dissemination of child sexual abuse material, drug trafficking, and other illicit activities by not adequately moderating content on the messaging app.

At the time, Durov called the allegations “misguided” and claimed that Telegram was “some sort of anarchic paradise are absolutely untrue.”

“Using laws from the pre-smartphone era to charge a CEO with crimes committed by third parties on the platform he manages is a misguided approach,” he added.

However, since being detained, Durov has retracted these comments, claiming he “realized the seriousness of all the allegations,” according to AFP, citing a source familiar with the matter.

Durov Thanks Followers

Durov wrote on Telegram that he was “deeply grateful” for his followers’ support, writing that there was “nothing our billion-strong community can’t overcome.”

The Telegram co-founder has received high-profile support from the Russian government and leading tech executives throughout his investigation.

Following his detainment, Musk called for Durov’s release on X, promoting the use of the #FreePavel hashtag .

Tron founder Justin Sun also proposed creating a decentralized autonomous organization to aid Durov’s legal defense.

Sun personally pledged $1 million to launch the fund, claiming it would show the cryptocurrency industry’s unity.

The Kremlin also cautioned France against transforming the legal proceedings against Durov into political persecution.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphasized the importance of ensuring that the investigation remains impartial and not politically motivated.