Dubai – March 17, 2025
Telegram founder Pavel Durov has confirmed his return to Dubai after spending months in France, where he was under legal investigation regarding the messaging platform’s role in alleged illicit activities.
In a statement posted on Telegram, Durov expressed relief at being back home while acknowledging that the legal process remains ongoing. “Feels great to be home,” he wrote, thanking investigative judges for permitting his departure from France.
Durov’s return follows reports that a French court granted him permission to leave the country after months of scrutiny. The Russian-born entrepreneur had been detained in Paris on August 24, 2024, as part of an investigation into Telegram’s operations. Authorities were reportedly examining whether the platform had facilitated illegal activities by failing to moderate content effectively.
Defending Telegram’s record, Durov asserted that the platform had consistently exceeded regulatory obligations in content moderation, cooperation with authorities, and crime prevention. “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 stated.
He also expressed gratitude to Telegram’s global user base for their continued support, saying, “There is nothing our billion-strong community can’t overcome.”
Meanwhile, Telegram’s financial outlook has strengthened significantly. The company’s cryptocurrency holdings surged to $1.3 billion in the first half of 2024, up from $400 million at the end of 2023. This increase was primarily driven by profits from selling Toncoins (TON) and a partnership linked to The Open Network (TON). These digital asset reserves have provided critical financial stability for Telegram, particularly during Durov’s legal challenges.
As Durov resumes his leadership from Dubai, the future of Telegram’s regulatory standing remains under scrutiny, but the platform’s resilience and financial growth continue to reinforce its position as a global messaging giant.
