French authorities fully lifted the travel restrictions imposed on Pavel Durov, the CEO and founder of the encrypted messaging app Telegram.
This decision ends a year-long period of judicial supervision that had barred him from leaving the country without authorization, following his high-profile arrest in August 2024 at Paris’s Le Bourget Airport.
Durov, a French-Russian dual national, was detained on charges related to Telegram’s alleged failure to cooperate with law enforcement in combating illegal activities on the platform, including the distribution of child sexual abuse material, drug trafficking, and other crimes.
Prosecutors accused him of complicity in these offenses, with potential penalties of up to 10 years in prison and fines exceeding $500,000. Post-arrest, Durov was placed under strict judicial control, requiring him to remain in France and report regularly to police in Nice.
Register for Tekedia Mini-MBA edition 19 (Feb 9 – May 2, 2026): big discounts for early bird.
Tekedia AI in Business Masterclass opens registrations.
Join Tekedia Capital Syndicate and co-invest in great global startups.
Register for Tekedia AI Lab: From Technical Design to Deployment (next edition begins Jan 24 2026).
This effectively grounded him, limiting his ability to travel to Telegram’s headquarters in Dubai. In July, restrictions were relaxed, allowing limited stays in the United Arab Emirates up to two weeks at a time.
In November 13, 2025, courts removed all remaining measures, including the travel ban and mandatory police check-ins. Durov is now free to travel internationally without oversight. The move was confirmed by judicial sources and reported by multiple outlets, though the underlying criminal investigation into Telegram remains active.
Durov has consistently denied the allegations, framing his arrest as an attack on free speech and privacy. In statements, he argued that Telegram operates as a neutral platform compliant with EU laws and that the case damaged France’s reputation as a hub for innovation.
Supporters, particularly in crypto and privacy communities, hailed the decision as a win for digital rights, with social media buzz linking it to optimism around Telegram’s TON blockchain ecosystem.
Critics, including French prosecutors, maintain that the platform’s end-to-end encryption has hindered efforts to moderate illicit content, sparking ongoing debates about tech accountability versus user privacy in Europe.
This development could signal de-escalation in the case, but no trial date has been set, and Durov’s legal team continues to push for dismissal. Telegram, with over 900 million users, has emphasized its cooperation with authorities while prioritizing user protections.
The decision by French authorities on to fully lift judicial supervision on Pavel Durov—including the ban on leaving France and mandatory police check-ins—marks a significant de-escalation in a high-stakes legal saga.
While the underlying criminal investigation into Telegram’s alleged complicity in facilitating illegal activities such as child exploitation material, drug trafficking, and fraud remains active, this move carries broad ramifications across legal, business, technological, and geopolitical domains.
Durov, can now travel freely without restrictions or bi-weekly police reporting in Nice. This ends a 15-month ordeal that began with his August 2024 arrest at Paris-Le Bourget Airport.
Judicial sources cited his full compliance with supervision as a factor in the decision. No trial date is set, and Durov remains under formal investigation. His legal team continues pushing for dismissal or reduced charges, arguing procedural flaws and that holding CEOs personally liable for user actions sets a “dangerous precedent.”
A conviction could still mean up to 10 years in prison and €750,000+ fines, but this lift signals potential weakening of the case. During the probe, Durov acknowledged rising criminal abuse on the platform and committed to improvements.
Telegram rolled out AI-powered tools in early 2024 and blocked over 34 million groups/channels in 2025 alone—demonstrating proactive enforcement. This could help fend off further regulatory pressure, positioning Telegram as a more “responsible” privacy-focused app.
Freed from constraints, Durov can more actively lead from Dubai HQ, potentially accelerating features like mini-apps and payments. Social media reactions highlight optimism for user growth in Europe, where Telegram competes with WhatsApp amid privacy concerns.
If the probe uncovers more evidence, it could lead to asset freezes or platform-wide blocks in France/EU, echoing past U.S. pressures Durov has cited. Telegram’s native blockchain, TON, surged ~4% immediately after the news, with community hype around Durov’s renewed ability to promote projects like the decentralized AI network Cocoon.
Posts frame this as “TON season” intensifying, linking Durov’s freedom to innovation in DeFi, NFTs, and Web3 integrations. The case underscores tensions between privacy tech and regulation, potentially influencing EU crypto policies. Durov’s recent meetings suggest expanded global partnerships.
This could shape EU enforcement of the Digital Services Act (DSA), balancing end-to-end encryption with moderation demands. Critics like French prosecutors see Telegram as a “safe haven” for crime; supporters view the lift as a rebuke to overreach.
Durov has called it an attack on free speech, damaging France’s innovation image. Similar probes (e.g., in Brazil or India) may pause or adapt, signaling that compliance yields concessions. It reinforces Durov’s narrative of governments targeting “tech leaders who defend privacy.”
Durov accused Paris of censorship and weakness; the lift may mitigate backlash but highlights EU-U.S. alignment on tech ccrackdowns. This is a partial victory for Durov and Telegram—easing immediate pressures while amplifying their privacy ethos—but the open investigation keeps the stakes high.
It could catalyze Telegram’s expansion and TON’s rally, but also fuel stricter EU rules if unresolved. Watch for Durov’s next moves, like Cocoon updates, as indicators of momentum.