Telegram Founder Pavel Durov Allowed to Leave France Amid Investigation
French authorities have temporarily allowed Pavel Durov, the Russian-born founder of Telegram, to leave France while he is under investigation.
According to AFP, Durov was granted permission to travel for a few weeks and is believed to have left for Dubai on Saturday.
As reported by Reuters, Durov was arrested near Paris in August 2023 and banned from leaving France as part of a probe into illegal activities on Telegram, including drug trafficking and money laundering. He was also required to pay 5 million euros ($5.4 million) as bail.
The investigation has strained relations between France and Russia, especially during the ongoing war in Ukraine. It has also sparked debates about free speech and how law enforcement should handle illegal activities on online platforms.
Being under formal investigation in France does not mean Durov is guilty or will face trial, but it shows that judges believe there is enough evidence to continue the probe.
Credit to Reuters and AFP for their detailed reporting on this story. The case highlights the challenges of balancing free speech and law enforcement in the digital age.