Telegram CEO Pavel Durov will be going to Dubai. French authorities have given him permission to do this from the 10th of July 2025. This is his second authorized travel, which comes after his August 2024 arrest. French authorities had issued a ban on his international travel as he stands trial for what they say are serious charges. These include use of the Telegram platform for illegal activities.
Despite very strict judicial supervision, a judge still ruled in Durov’s favor to visit Dubai, which is home to Telegram’s global headquarters. But he must report to the court in advance. His documents will be returned at the time of his trip and then seized once he returns. Also, travel is to be limited to Dubai, and all other bail conditions are to remain in force. Pavel Durov finds this critical to his defense strategy.
Pavel Durov’s Temporary Release
He put forth that he has a newborn son born in Dubai who has not yet met him. He also has a teenage son who recently broke his arm and requires his parent’s attention. The court took these personal concerns of Durov into account. This influenced in favor of his case.
Previous reports of travel requests included a business trip to the U.S. for investor meetings and also to Norway. However, these were turned down. Prosecutors said those trips were not necessary. But they did agree to this Dubai visit, which is under very tight judicial control. This visit was a significant moment for Pavel Durov.
Issue Brings To Light Tech CEO Responsibility
The tech world is still reeling from a series of legal issues which have surrounded Pavel Durov. He is accused of using Telegram as a base for drug trafficking, money laundering and child exploitation. Prosecutors report that the platform did not respond to law enforcement data requests, and this complicates Durov’s defense.
While Telegram is growing and breaking into new markets, they report now to have 1 billion monthly users. At the same time, they are under greater watch. The spotlight is the TON blockchain project, which puts out micro apps such as Hamster Kombat and Notcoin. Telegram reports that they are in the process of improving moderation. Durov’s input is key to their future.
The case may set a new standard for platform responsibility. If found guilty, Pavel Durov faces a prison term of up to 10 years and a fine of 500,000 euros.
