Telegram founder, Pavel Durov, allowed to leave France — despite ongoing criminal investigation

Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of messaging app Telegram, no longer has to stay in France. A source told AFP that the investigating judge in charge of Durov’s case has accepted a request to modify the conditions of his supervision. “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,” Durov wrote on Monday in a message posted to his Telegram channel. “The process is ongoing, but it feels great to be home.” Durov was arrested on August 24, 2024, after he stepped off a private jet at France’s Le Bourget Airport. He spent four days in police custody — leading to widespread coverage of his arrest. Shortly afterwards, the Paris criminal court, which is in charge of the investigation, explained the reasons for his arrest. Most of the charges revolve around the Telegram founder allegedly being complicit in facilitating organized fraud, illegal transitions, and the sharing of CSAM ( ... Read full article.