365Crypto
Court Allows Durov to Exit France
Telegram’s founder, Pavel Durov, has left France and moved to Dubai. A French court approved his departure on March 13.
Reports suggest that the court granted him permission to leave for a few weeks. However, the exact terms of the decision remain unclear.
Dubai, known for its business-friendly policies, does not have extradition agreements with many countries.
Legal Troubles in France
Durov’s legal issues started on August 24, 2024, when French authorities arrested him at Le Bourget airport in Paris.
On August 28, prosecutors accused him of allowing illegal activity on Telegram. If convicted, he faced up to 10 years in prison and a €500,000 fine.
He was released on bail the same day, paying $6 million. However, French officials required him to stay in the country while investigations continued.
Reaction From Markets and Governments
Durov has not commented on his departure, and French authorities have not made an official statement.
The crypto market reacted fast. Toncoin (TON), Telegram’s associated cryptocurrency, jumped 18% after the news broke.
Russia also expressed interest in helping Durov, as he holds both Russian and French citizenship.
Russian Developers and Legal Battles
Durov’s case is not the first involving Russian tech figures. His exit from France follows the return of Alexander Vinnik to Russia last month.
Vinnik, who once operated the BTC-e exchange, had been in U.S. custody since 2017. His release was part of a prisoner swap between the U.S. and Russia.
