Telegram founder Pavel Durov has confirmed his return to Dubai after months in France, where he was involved in a legal investigation concerning the messaging platform.
In a March 17 update on Telegram, Durov expressed relief at being back home, noting that the legal process was still ongoing but “feels great to be home.”
His statement follows reports that he had been permitted to leave France after receiving approval from a French court. According to a March 15 report citing anonymous sources, Durov departed the country after months of scrutiny over Telegram’s alleged role in facilitating illegal activities. The executive was arrested in Paris on August 24 as part of an investigation into the app’s operations.
Addressing the situation, Durov maintained that Telegram had consistently met and even exceeded its legal responsibilities regarding content moderation, cooperation with authorities, and crime prevention. He thanked the investigative judges for allowing him to leave and his legal team for proving that Telegram had exceeded regulatory expectations.
“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,”
Durov stated.
He also acknowledged the support of Telegram’s global community throughout the ordeal, emphasizing their collective resilience. “There is nothing our billion-strong community can’t overcome,” he added.
Meanwhile, Telegram’s financial position has improved significantly, with its cryptocurrency holdings rising to $1.3 billion in the first half of 2024, up from $400 million at the end of 2023. This increase was mainly due to profits from selling Toncoins (TON) and a deal associated with The Open Network (TON). The growing digital asset reserves have helped provide financial stability for Telegram, especially during its founder’s legal challenges.
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