Telegram’s Pavel Durov May Leave France for Dubai—Again
Pavel Durov, Telegram’s co-founder and CEO, could be heading back to Dubai soon—if French authorities let him. According to *Le Monde*, Durov has been granted permission to leave France starting July 10. This isn’t the first time. Back in April, he was allowed a short trip to Dubai, though the U.S. was off the table.
The catch? Last time, he had to fork over a €5 million bond and check in with police twice a week. Not exactly a vacation. Telegram’s main offices are in Dubai, so it makes sense he’d want to go. But with legal trouble hanging over him, it’s complicated.
Why France Isn’t Happy With Telegram
French officials have been after Durov for a while. They arrested him last year, accusing Telegram of turning a blind eye to illegal content—stuff like criminal activity and unmoderated posts. Worse, they claim the app’s encryption methods broke local laws.
Since then, Telegram’s made some changes. Now, if you try sharing illegal material, the app might hand over your IP address and phone number to the cops. That’s a big shift for a platform known for privacy.
Durov, who’s Russian-born and worth billions, has always been vocal about free speech. His arrest didn’t sit well with a lot of people, including Edward Snowden and Elon Musk, who called it heavy-handed.
The Crypto Connection
Telegram’s huge in the crypto world. It supports mini-apps that let users earn tokens, and at one point, the company was even building its own blockchain, The Open Network (TON). That project got scrapped in 2020 after regulators stepped in, but a group of independent developers kept it alive.
Now, TON’s native token is the 21st-largest cryptocurrency by market cap. You can earn it right in the app. Whether that’s a good thing or just another headache for regulators depends on who you ask.
Durov hasn’t commented yet, and Telegram’s staying quiet for now. But if history’s any guide, he won’t stay silent forever. Last week, he posted a shaky French-language video online, joking about his accent. Small thing, maybe, but it’s the kind of move that keeps his supporters on his side.
For now, all eyes are on July 10. Will he leave? Will France tighten the rules again? Hard to say. But one thing’s clear—this isn’t over.
