Pavel Durov, the founder of the messaging platform Telegram, has traveled to Dubai from France after receiving approval from a French court, as reported by various sources.
“He left France this morning,” an anonymous insider shared with a news agency.
Another source confirmed that an investigating judge had authorized Durov’s request to leave France for “a few weeks.”
Durov’s Legal Challenges Began Last Year
Durov found himself in a sudden predicament when he was arrested by French authorities at Le Bourget airport in Paris on August 24. Following his detention, he faced multiple charges on August 26, including involvement in child exploitation, drug trafficking, and organized crime.
Authorities in France contended that Telegram, due to its minimal content regulation, enabled illegal activities, such as the distribution of child pornography and drug trafficking. They indicated that Durov could potentially face a decade in prison along with a fine of €500,000 ($550,000).
His arrest drew criticism from the Telegram community in an open letter, labeling it “a blatant assault on freedom of expression and the right to privacy.” Notable figures like whistleblower Edward Snowden and tech entrepreneur Elon Musk also spoke out against Durov’s arrest as an infringement on free speech.
Approval for Modification of Bail Conditions
On August 28, Durov was released from police custody and placed under judicial oversight after posting bail of €5 million ($6 million). His release included various stipulations, one of which mandated that he remain within France.
However, reports indicate that on March 13, the investigating judge approved Durov’s request for modification of his bail conditions, allowing him to exit the country.
While the specifics of the court’s ruling are not fully disclosed, Durov’s recent journey to Dubai—a location known for its absence of extradition accords with several nations—has raised issues regarding jurisdiction and privacy.
Durov holds dual citizenship, being a national of France as well as Russia and the United Arab Emirates.
Shortly after his release, Durov expressed in a Telegram post:
“Creating technology is challenging enough. No innovator will pursue new tools if they fear being held personally liable for any misuse of those tools.”
Positive Developments for Russian Programmers
The report of Durov’s move to Dubai has yet to be officially verified by Telegram or Durov himself. However, if true, he would be the second Russian programmer recently released from legal troubles.
Just last month, Alexander Vinnik, the operator of the now-defunct cryptocurrency exchange BTC-e, was released by the U.S. and repatriated to Russia as part of a prisoner exchange, a maneuver aimed at improving political relations between the two nations.
It is also important to mention that Telegram was banned in Russia back in 2018 after the app refused to provide encryption keys necessary for accessing users’ communications.
Welcoming Response from the TON Foundation
The crypto sector has reacted favorably to Durov’s relocation to Dubai, with the price of The Open Network (TON) rising by 20% over the past 24 hours, according to data from a crypto analysis platform.
The TON Foundation has expressed its support, calling Durov’s travel a “notable moment of resolution” in a released statement on a social media platform. The statement highlighted:
“As members of the decentralized TON community, we stand united with Pavel, honoring his unwavering commitment to defending freedom of expression and privacy in the digital realm.”
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