Telegram CEO Pavel Durov announced on Monday that he had traveled from France to Dubai, as French authorities continue to investigate criminal activity on his messaging platform.
Durov shared the update on his Telegram channel, revealing that he had been detained last year upon his arrival in Paris. French authorities had filed preliminary charges against him, accusing Telegram of enabling criminal activities.
After his arrest, Durov was prohibited from leaving France and was required to report to a police station twice a week while the investigation continued.
In his post, Durov explained, “As you may have heard, I’ve returned to Dubai after spending several months in France due to an investigation related to the activity of criminals on Telegram. The process is ongoing, but it feels great to be home.”
French authorities have claimed that Telegram was used for illegal activities such as child sexual abuse material and drug trafficking. They also stated that Telegram had refused to provide requested information and documents to investigators as required by law.
In his post, Durov expressed gratitude to the “investigative judges for allowing this to happen.”
Durov was detained last August when he landed at Le Bourget airport near Paris. He was questioned for four days as part of a comprehensive investigation into criminal activities linked to Telegram.
In his post, Durov stated that Telegram has consistently met and even exceeded its legal obligations regarding moderation, cooperation, and crime prevention.
He had previously asserted after his arrest that Telegram is not an “anarchic paradise.” He pointed to the platform’s rapid growth, which, he said, led to challenges that made it easier for criminals to exploit the service.