Pavel Durov, founder of Telegram, has temporarily left France after receiving approval from an investigating judge, according to a source familiar with the case.

He departed for Dubai on Mar. 15, following months of legal issues in France over alleged failures to prevent extremist content on Telegram.

Durov was detained at Le Bourget airport near Paris in August 2024 and later released on €5 million (US$5.6 million) bail, with restrictions including a travel ban. Recent modifications to his judicial supervision allowed him to leave France for a few weeks.

A statement from Telegram is expected but has not yet been released.

Durov, who holds passports from Russia, France, and the UAE, reportedly acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations in discussions with French magistrates.

Recent Telegram developments