France has revoked the travel ban on Telegram’s founder, Pavel Durov, amidst an ongoing investigation concerning illegal content on his app, judicial sources confirmed Thursday.
The 41-year-old Russian-born tech entrepreneur was detained in Paris in 2024 and is presently under formal investigation by French authorities for the platform’s alleged involvement in criminal activities.
Initially prohibited from leaving France, Durov had his judicial restrictions eased in July.
Authorities have now completely lifted his travel ban, and he is no longer required to report to police in Nice.
Over the past year, Durov “has fully adhered to his judicial oversight,” a judicial source told AFP, preferring to remain anonymous.
Holding both French and Russian citizenship, Durov faces accusations of facilitating an online platform that enabled illegal transactions, distribution of child abuse imagery, and other unlawful content.
During initial questioning in December 2024, Durov acknowledged an increase in criminal activities on the platform and vowed to enhance content monitoring.
However, Durov accused French authorities of not adhering to proper legal procedures in content moderation requests.
He refutes the charges, criticizing his arrest as causing “massive damage to France’s reputation as a free nation.”
His lawyers have declined to comment when contacted by AFP.
